I wasn't the least bit enthused about staying behind this morning for Hanabi and Sakura. It's the last day that we are out here at Hinata's place and all I really want to do is get out on the mountain and tear it up. Maybe if it had just been Sakura that slept in I would be okay but because Hanabi stayed behind too I am in a sour mood.

Luckily for me Sakura seems to understand that it isn't her fault that I am in a bad mood, which I am thankful. If she was as agitated as I am right now it wouldn't be good. Instead she is offering me reassuring smiles and gentle nudges. I swear I'm going crazy because of her. Somehow her every touch calms me, and when I saw her inhale deeply I knew she was enjoying that rain scent she swears I smell like.

I can see the mountain coming into view ahead of us and watch as Hanabi takes off to go find her sister and cousin.

"You're awfully quiet. You okay now that Hanabi has left?" Sakura asks quietly from next to me.

I shrug. "It's just the last day that we are going to be here, and we wasted half the day." I respond on a sigh.

Sakura nods. "Well go play on the mountain then. I myself will stick with the bunny slope and the lodge but if you want to have a snow ball fight just come and get me." She says with a smile before walking off in the opposite direction that I need to go. Sometimes she knows just the right thing to say.

I head over to the chair lift and wait for my turn, snapping myself into my board and letting the chair scoop me up and carry me to the top. I pull my goggles down to protect my eyes from the glare and wind that is blowing through the mountains. I love how beautiful it is up here, the snow is beautiful and so refreshing.

When I get to the top of the mountain I waste no time, gliding over to my desired path. With a smile I let myself gain speed and soon I am racing down the mountain, the wind whipping the little bit of exposed skin I have. The feeling of flying down the mountain is something that you can only experience during the winter and it's one that I never miss out on.

I cut through the cold mountain air making wind of my own as I zoom past other snowboarders and skiers. I'm sure they think I am crazy, maybe even reckless but I know what I am doing. My mind narrows on concentrating on what I am doing but Sakura soon sneaks into my thoughts.

This morning could have gone so much better if I hadn't been so irritated by Hanabi. I was in her room next to her bed, I could have woken her up nicely, rather than shaking her. She had been smiling in her dream so there was a good chance I could have kissed her if I wanted to. Did I want to? Christ, she had some effect on me that I have never felt before let alone know how to deal with.

My lack of concentration on the mountain strikes suddenly as I go off one of the final jumps unprepared. I fly through the air in a horrible rendition of a flying chicken and land painfully on my board. The impact of landing wrong shoots through my body and I know that I need to get to the bottom of the mountain and sit down. My lack of concentration has cost me my final day on the mountain.

I slowly glide up to the lodge and stand there shakily. My legs and feet hurt so badly that I don't want to move. Sadly no one else on the mountain can read my thoughts and as people squeeze by to enter and leave the lodge I lose my balance and land on my ass.

"Well that was graceful." Sakura says from somewhere behind me in a playful tone.

I sigh. "Hey can you just help me unstrap myself. I landed wrong on a jump and I may have sprained something." I say going to reach for my strap, pushing through the sharp pain it causes.

Sakura's hand pushes mine out of the way gently and starts to work my board off my boots. "Can you at least stand?" She asks, looking up at me.

I nod and take her hand that she offers. "Shit that smarts." I hiss as I reach the standing position. I can't believe that I landed the way that I did, that was pretty careless on my part.

Sakura cocks her head to the side sighing and looks at me. "Well I was just going to hang out in the lodge till you were done. We can head back if you want." Sakura offers with a small smile.

I look off in the direction that the house is in, it's an awfully long walk. "I may collapse before we get there." I joke with a laugh.

Sakura laughs and smiles. "If you need help I'm right here." She says taking my board under one arm and hers under the other.

Snow starts to fall in huge penny size flakes as we slowly make our way down the path that leads toward the house. The more we walk the easier it gets and the less I feel the sharp pain in my legs. I grab my bored from Sakura. "I think I am good now." I say with a smile.

Sakura nods and looks up into the snow closing her eyes and smiling. "I'm glad that it finally decided to snow again." She says quietly.

I watch Sakura and can't help the smile that comes to my face. I better start excepting that she will always make me smile for some unknown reason. I think I can be okay with that, after all there isn't anything about Sakura that I'm not okay with.

Sakura stumbles over a snow covered hole and my hand shoots out to steady her but it's too late. She starts to fall and as I step forward the pain in my leg shoots through my body causing me to falter. Sakura trips into me and next thing I know I'm face up in the snow with Sakura sprawled out on top of me.

"Nice catch." She laughs catching my stare.

We lay in the snow for what seems like minutes. I could do it right now, the moment is perfect. I could tell her that I like her, suggest that maybe we could give it a shot and see where it goes. The idea is thrilling but then the 'what if' clouds my mind. What if she doesn't feel the same, what if I ruin the relationship we have right now. I groan. "You're crushing me." I complain, deciding that I would rather have it the way it is than risk ruining everything we have right now.

Sakura rolls off of me with a laugh and climbs to her feet, offering me a helping hand. "Sorry about that. Probably shouldn't walk with my eyes closed." She says sheepishly.

Oh dear God. The pain is back and worse than before. "I'm going to need some help, that really hurt." I mumble squeezing my eyes shut.

Sakura snakes an arm around my torso quickly. "I'm so sorry." She apologizes horrified with her actions.

I smile and lean on her for support. "Eh just a flesh wound. A soak in the hot tub should help out a bit." I joke picking up my board with my free and wincing at the pain it causes.

Sakura looks at me, her worried expression on her face. "That's internal you know." She says seriously.

I shrug and laugh as we start to walk again slowly. "Like this will slow me down." I respond through gritted teeth.

Sakura laughs. "You know you don't have to be a tough guy all the time." She says on a sigh.

The concept is foreign, I have always been a tough guy, taking every hit with a smile on my face. The last time I actually cried was when my father was killed, after that I just refused to let anything or anyone make me cry. I grin at Sakura. "It's who I am."

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