Warmth

Disclaimer, whee. Don't own, so don't sue. This chapter has been redone, along with the second one. I hope it came out better this time around, if anyone wants the original chapter, post it in a review with an email and I'll try and send it to you.. If anything seems off, like technology wise, it's for the sake of the story. Please bear with me. ^.^

The pairing is Sakura x Naruto and is NC-17. That is, if I get reviews and thus incentive to continue it. Hope this is interesting to ya'll. And if it's warm where you're at, send a bit of it my way. My state is freakin' cold in the winter.

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Sakura smiled and tilted her head as a playful breeze came up to play with everyone's hair as they returned from a mission. They walked in a rare silence until they reached the red bridge.

"Hey, Naruto." She called out, surprising the blond. He quickly recovered with a smile.

"What is it, Sakura-chan?"

"Let's go get some ramen." He looked curious, but nodded happily.

"Alright! Race you there!" he said as he ran off at the same time.

"Come back here baka!" She yelled at him as she ran after him. Sasuke relaxed and looked at Kakashi and Sai. "Sushi?"
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Sakura caught Naruto barely outside Ichiraku's.

"Man, now I'm really hungry." She muttered as she walked in with Naruto. Due to Naruto's constant patronage, and thus, his teammates and friends, Ichiraku's owner had upgraded to an actual building. They claimed an empty table and ordered when Ayame came by.

"After this, there's something I want to show you." Sakura said just before the ramen arrived.

"What is it?" He asked, tilting his head curiously.

"Eh, you'll see." She smiled as she finished her ramen quickly. He ate in his normal record setting time and his stomach growled. She laughed and Ayame brought over another bowl. She paid for three bowls of ramen after he was done, over his protestations.

"I asked you, you can pay next time." He stopped protesting at the mention of a next time, so she stood and led him out of Ichiraku's. Her goal was on the other side of town, near the Hyuuga complex. There was a nice apartment building over this way, but not much else. He stopped at the entrance when she led him to it. She arched an eyebrow at him and asked, "What?"

"I can't…" he trailed off. She grabbed his wrist and led him inside anyway.

"Come on, I have an appointment with Midnight."

"Midnight?" he repeated blankly as he looked around the place. The bottom floor looked like it was mostly offices and such. A large clear space led up to a desk with two women sitting behind it.

"Yes, it's good to see you again, Sakura." A calm, cool voice said, catching his attention. A woman was headed towards them from his left, a wall with a couple of elevators and a door to a staircase behind her. She was approximately 5'8, had straight ass length black hair, tan skin and emerald eyes. Her lean build suggested she wasn't merely a business woman, so did the long stemmed pipe was easily held in one hand, and her outfit of unrelieved black from head to foot.

"I'll show you the place, this way please." She said and went to the elevators, pushing a button for the top floor, left side.

"Why are there doors on two sides of the elevator?" Sakura asked curiously.

"Each floor is split into two apartments, which is why the building is so tall." The door to the elevator opened on their left, leading to a short hallway and two doors. One to the staircase, the other a bit thicker, to the apartment. Midnight produced a key and opened the door.

"There are stairs, but those are for emergencies and the few civilians that live here. Most of the renters are nin." She said as she let them inside. Sakura and Naruto split up to look around as Midnight waited in the rather large living room. After poking about, they met up at the island table in the kitchen.

"Three bedrooms, two baths, kitchen, living room, two balconies, several closets, already furnished for the most part." They looked at Midnight.

"How much?"

"It's extremely reasonable. Plus nins get a discount. We have security and in case of emergencies or bad weather, report to the communal kitchen in the basement. The training area and showers are in the sub-basement. And before you feel the need to ask, I'll be happy to rent to you and Naruto." Sakura smiled, that was the main selling point of this place. None of the others she had went around to had been willing to rent to him, and the few that were, were still showing some reluctance. She turned to look at her friend and teammate.

"So, what do you think Naruto? Want to be roommates?" He shook off his dazed look and smiled.

"Sure!"

"The kitchen is always open, we have a laundry service, weapon's service, and you can hire a maid from us if you want. The showers in the basement have lockers and also are always open. You can move in at anytime after the paperwork is complete."

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Sakura sighed and stretched. She'd just moved into her and Naruto's new place, and was thankful he'd mastered the shadow clone technique. It made things so much simpler. (I'm so glad to be out of my house, this will be much better. Even though it will be odd to share a place with Naruto. Though...the look on some people's faces when they found out I was Naruto's new room mate...bothers me.) She sighed once more and started pacing, unable to stay relaxed for too long when thinking about how the older villagers treated Naruto. (It didn't bother me so much before I was his teammate... Now...ugh, I would like to slam a fist into some of those faces.) Sakura paced for awhile longer, then nearly threw herself on the large comfy couch she had picked out. (I'm sooo glad Naruto was able to help pay for this. It's so comfortable.) Her eyes slid shut and she let the stress slide away so sleep could claim her.

A few hours later, Sakura awoke with a feeling of foreboding. Her dreams had been pleasant enough, and still had the power to make her blush, so those weren't the reason. She glanced at a clock (It's 10 p.m. Naruto should have been back by now.) Giving up getting comfortable with an irritable sigh she stood up. She stalked over to the door, grabbing her gloves as she slipped on her sandals instead of her boots. (He better not be just side tracked.) she muttered mentally and stomped out into the elevator.

When she reached the bottom she waved at Song and Silke who were at the 'welcome' desk.

"Going out." She said, meaning, In a hurry, didn't lock. She had been skeptical of Silke at first, but the blind girl did an eerily good job, Song did too. However, Song had one eye at least, which Sakura was used to thanks to Kakashi.

"Got it." Silke replied. Sakura vanished into the crowd to look for familiar blond hair. (Blond, but wrong one.) She was thinking to herself as her mind went over the list Naruto had told her before leaving.

From out of the corner of her eye she caught a shock of blond hair down an alley. Sakura turned, furious when she realized the blond was sprawled along the ground with three people standing over him. A spot of blood amidst all the blond hair alerted her to how they had managed to get him down. (Of all the cowardly... attacking him from behind, after a mission tough enough even he was tired. Combine that with moving so recently. I knew I shouldn't have let him out of my sight yet, groceries could have waited..) Sakura came up behind the closest one and suddenly slammed her fist into the side of his head, knocking him out. Twisting about, she gave a snarl that, had Naruto or Kyuubi been awake to hear it, might have made them proud. With a kick and another punch, the last two of Naruto's attackers fell to the ground. She walked over to look down at Naruto.

"How do you get into these messes?" She asked the unconscious blond before leaning over to get one of his arms over her shoulders and one of hers around his waist. With a surge of chakra to strengthen her muscles she lifted him up. (Still heavy, must be all those muscles. Bastard.) She thought without malice.

Sakura knew she was drawing weird looks from people passing by, but she didn't care. Her main worry at the moment was getting her friend and teammate home to look at his head since it hadn't healed yet. She sent a bit of her healing chakra into Naruto's body, and as if a channel had been opened, Naruto seemed to draw more in. Soon he was conscious and standing and she was leaning against him, all her extra energy from having done nothing recently gone. Naruto paused as he felt her lean against him.

"Sakura? When did you get here?"

"Idiot. I got here after those guys had knocked you out. I came out of the house because you were gone so long. I smacked them around and got you out of the alley. Now that you're awake and moving though, I think you can carry me. You took most of my energy." Naruto blushed and scratched his head, but picked Sakura up. She yawned and leaned against his chest, muttering, "Wake me when we get home."

Naruto sighed and looked down at the young woman now asleep in his arms. (This is going to look great. They're going to think I've kidnapped her or something. But, she does feel nice like this.) He started walking, on the look out for anyone who might try anything. (Too late.) He thought to himself. Not far from the building they called home, he found a semi circle of his worst female tormenters in front of him.

"Just what do you think you're doing with forehead girl?" One of them asked, the others echoing her.

"She's my room mate." (Maybe if I keep it simple it'll be alright. I don't think I should fight them, plus I'd wake Sakura.)

One of the girls scoffed and went to try to take Sakura from him. He was about to twist and put Sakura out of her reach, but he noticed Sakura's fist was less than an inch from the woman's nose. The women and Naruto almost wore identical expressions of shock. Sakura glared at them from Naruto's arms.

"Just what do you think you're doing?! I'm tired, I want to go home, who are you to interrupt?"

"Sak-" Naruto started to say her name, but was cut off by the other woman's reply.

"We were going to take you home. Surely you don't want the..I mean, Naruto to.."

"Naruto knows where I live, you don't. I trust him, not you. I don't care /what/ you think he is, he's my friend, and if I ever hear you laugh one more time at him when he says he'll be Hokage, I'll kick your ass. Then deliver you to Ino so she can use that empty head of yours for a vase again." (I think this must be her other personality. I've never heard Sakura say anything like that before otherwise..)

"Fine, let the freak take you home."

"That's what I just avoided."

The women scattered, and Sakura grumbled and relaxed against Naruto again. Naruto shook his head but hurried into their apartment complex.

Getting in was easy, Song and Silke had apparently been waiting for him. Song opened the doors.

"Welcome back." She said before adjusting the leaf headband over her right eye. He nodded and smiled at the woman, her multicolor hair seeming to shimmer from one to the next, her visible eye doing much the same. He knew however from experience she could make her hair and eye pick a color. He glanced over to Silke, who was waiting by the elevators. Long black hair was loose, and a ruby silk ribbon was over her eyes, long ends trailing down her back into her hair. Naruto shook his head slightly, he had to be really tired if he was getting distracted by them after seeing them so often recently. Silke smiled and pushed the button to open the doors, so he hurried over.

Once inside, she leaned in far enough to push the button for their floor and the last thing he saw was her back as the doors closed.
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Naruto stared at the doorknob for a moment, then sighed softly. His hands and arms were occupied, not that he was complaining, but it did make it hard to operate those things. Much to his relief however, Sakura was apparently awake enough she managed to open the door for him. His arms tightened in a light hug in thanks as he walked through. He put her on the couch, then went to shut and lock the door. Sakura was stretched out on her side, after slipping off sandals and gloves, throwing both in the general direction of the door. He stuck his tongue out at her when they barely missed him.

She only took up half of the huge couch they had. He went over to her to put a blanket over her, and her hand shot out, latching onto his wrist. As he stared at her, a sharp tug sent him sprawling onto the space left beside her. Somehow the blanket ended up over them, mostly, but it hardly mattered when Sakura pressed herself against Naruto's side.

"Ah...my heater..uhm, roomate..yeah..." Naruto chuckled softly. She'd started using him as a heater during a mission sometime ago, after discovering his body was much hotter than Sasuke or even Kakashi's. As Sakura fell asleep, so did he. The last thing he saw before falling asleep was the top of her head where it rested on his chest.
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Sakura woke up slowly, little things filtering in to her brain as she did. (Warm...safe..I have a moving pillow. I must have fallen asleep with Naruto again.) (*We should make this a regular occurrence! Damn he's gotten to be hot!*) Inner Sakura suddenly spoke up. Sakura rubbed her cheek absently where it rested against Naruto's chest, her inner debate distracting her from hearing the hitch in Naruto's breathing. (Mmmm, just maybe. Hey, when did my hand end up under his shirt and on his stomach?) (*When you were sleeping, geez, at least someone around here is paying attention.*) Sakura slowly flexed her fingers over the smooth skin of his stomach. This time she was much more aware of his reaction to her as it tensed beneath her hand.

"Oi, not that I'm really complaining, but could you not do that?" Naruto's strained voice reached her from over her head. She tilted her head back to look up at him.

"Does it tickle?"

Naruto's eyes widened "No! Of course not!" Sakura grinned, looking rather wicked.

"Hm, I'd better make sure." He looked dismayed as her hand slid across his skin and she tickled him. His gasp and subsequent squirm amused her, so she did it over and over.

Finally, when he was gasping for breath, and had caught her hands, she stopped. She looked up at him with a wide grin.

"Not ticklish?" He glared at her a bit, and it was mostly ruined by his flushed cheeks.