Being independent, able to handle and look after herself, it was something Sakura could now do with ease, though in the past it had not always been so easy. She may have given off the appearance of someone like that and may have actually believed it herself but she knew now that had not been the case. Back then she'd relied on everyone, assuming that someone else would be there to sort everything out when she made a mistake.

Always thinking that Kakashi and Sasuke would sort everything out, she'd looked up to the two and had believed that if there was a problem they would solve it. She'd never even thought of Naruto, who she'd personally thought was the main cause of all her problems. There was only one time when she truly had to defend for herself when the four of them were all still together, just one time, the time she cut her hair. And even then she hadn't been much use, barely holding them off for more than a few minutes before being rescued by another Shinobi. Another Shinobi, who like Naruto, she had mocked, thinking he was nothing but a weirdo.

Appearances can be so desceptive, she thought as she walked outside of the house onto the main road, where she stood waiting for another person to join her. It was ironic that the people she had thought of the least cared for her the most.

Sasuke, the person she had idolised for his good looks and calm exterior, disappeared and she went crying to Naruto, her last hope, expecting him to pick up the pieces.

She smiled then, thinking of how very strange it was, she had always treated Naruto badly but as soon as she had needed him he had been there. Just as he had always been, he was the one constant in her life. It was easy to say she was now able to handle things on her own but even now she still relied on Naruto. He was her support and what kept her standing because she knew he was the one person who would never leave her.

It was a selfish thought, which she would not deny.

She needed him like she needed her legs and arms, without him she'd stand still unable to move, she would slowly die from the inside out. Starving herself in the absence of his light, like a plant which had lost the sun, she needed him to survive. She wondered if it was okay to depend on someone else's presence so desperately because if he left her like Sasuke had done, there would be no one left to pick up the pieces.

But Naruto wasn't Sasuke was he? She'd chosen him as her support for a reason, besides the fact that he was important to her, she knew he was loyal and would never leave her. Or at least that's what she wanted to believe, because he had become her most important person or as Haku would have said 'precious person'. Or was it both? She shook her head trying to remember.

Sighing she looked at her watch, he was already 10 minutes late, so much for their first date. She looked up, frowning when she saw the blonde appear in front of her, watching as his smile slipped into a look of unease at her frown.

"Sakura-chan, I'm sorry I'm late…" he said apologising as he looked at Sakura, seeking her forgiveness.

"Its fine Naruto" she said, feeling the familiar itch at the chan added to the end of her name. He always addressed her like this, no matter how many times she told him to drop it. Though it was only small, it felt like he pushed a barrier between them, making it even harder for them to connect.

"Okay then! Lets go!" said Naruto enthusiastically, grabbing Sakura's arm as he pulled her through the crowds, not seeing her cheeks flush because of the contact of his skin against hers. When they arrived at their destination she wasn't surprised to see it was Naruto's favourite ramen shop. She remembered the last time she'd come to this place when Naruto had first come back, he'd said he wanted to have a date with her but in the end had to ask her for money since he didn't have enough to pay for her own food. Hopefully this time would be different.

They both sat down on the stand and Naruto ordered ramen, which was really surprising considering they were at a ramen stall and all, you'd expect him to get sushi!

"So why'd you agree to coming out with me Sakura-chan?" asked Naruto, curious to know why she'd finally agreed to having lunch with him.

"I'm a bit short on cash at the moment" she admitted "So I thought it would be a good idea to take up your offer" she said, not noticing that Naruto who had gotten his hopes up had just fallen flat against the table, she Silently added 'and because I've missed you'.

The ramen arrived and the two sat mostly in silence as they ate, only the occasional loud slurp from Naruto interrupting the peace. The old man who owned the shop smiled at the two.

"So you finally got yourself a girlfriend Naruto" he said, laughing when the two turned bright red spluttering as they tried to explain themselves, he didn't give them a chance as he quickly left to get Naruto's bowl a refill. They both sat for a moment in silence as the man shuffled around in the back. They were both embarrassed but as usual Naruto was the first one to talk.

"Don't listen to that old man Sakura-chan, he said the same thing when I brought Ten-Ten here as well as that other time I took Hinata…" he said trailing off when he realised he'd done something to upset her again, judging from the scary look on her face. What he thought he saw was anger but what Sakura was really feeling was fear mixed with jealously, she wondered if the idea of having him by her side forever had always been a fantasy. After all there were other girls out there, who could say that he wouldn't choose one of them?

"Sakura-chan are you okay?" he asked worried as he looked at her suddenly pale face.

"Yeah I'll be fine, I just need some fresh air" she said quickly, pushing her way out the stand. It was ridiculous to get so worked up about him seeing other girls, but when another person was your world everything they do matters and affects you.

'I am pathetic' she thought as the tears started falling, she was not in control and she could not handle anything. She'd been stupid and had not even thought that Naruto might one day find someone special and no longer feel the need to look after her.

Just then arms slipped around her shoulders, holding her close to a warm solid chest.

"Is it Sasuke?" the voice she knew was Naruto's asked quietly. She shook her head.

"Will you tell me what's wrong?" he asked. Again she shook her head. She couldn't answer that question because the problem had already been resolved, he was with her and that was enough. She turned around so that she was facing his chest and she cried because he was there and she knew he'd never leave her.

...

I wrote another oneshot!

Sorry is that was riddled with typos and bits that didn't make sense, I just started writing it while procrastinating for my story Torn and for some reason got really into it... Though I don't know if I'll just leave it here or start writing more...