Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters. They belong solely to their creators. I however own the original characters in this story. Do not use them without my permission.

Note: This story takes place shortly after Itachi massacres his family. Shi is one of my original characters.

A Time Between:

A Sasuke Tale

Chapter I: Introduction

Shi sat quietly next to Sasuke in their house. She was used to the silence, but not this much. It had been 1 year since Shi has begun living with him and she knew everything there was to know about him. And Sasuke being this silent meant something was coming. Finally Sasuke spoke up "You'll be joining the Academy tomorrow." Shi stared at him, she knew this but before she could say anything he continued "But they want you to have extra help from a Jounin. His name is Hatake Kakashi. Shi come here please."

Shi scouted over closer to him and flanked out the window. It was getting late and Sasuke would be making her go to bed soon, but Sasuke did something strange. He pulled out a kunai and slashed his upper arm. Shi out of fear moved near him to inspect the wound he'd created, but he pulled her arm and slashed hers in near the same spot he'd made the wound on his arm.

He pulled out some bandages and bandaged their arms together. Shi didn't understand what he was doing and stared at him, her eyes wide with fear.

"Sasuke-sama?" she asked quietly.

Sasuke gave her a small smile. "It ensures we'll always be together even though we can't always be together physically."

Shi smiled back at him and leaned on his shoulder. "Who is this Hatake Kakashi?" Shi asked softly.

"I don't know much about him, other than the fact he is a Jounin."

Shi nodded her head feeling nervous. Shi knew everything there was to know about Sasuke, but when it came to everything else, she only knew bits and pieces. All she knew about Jounins is that they were strong.

"Shi, go to sleep, if your worn out from exhaustion on your first day it won't look good."

Shi sighed, she knew she was the only thing he had left to care for as it stood, Sasuke had isolated himself so much. "Yes Sasuke-sama." she murmured sweetly, using his shoulder as a pillow, closing her eyes. Sasuke smiled at her and sunk unto his own thoughts

Shi wandered the empty streets of the village, shocked it was this empty. She was looking for Sasuke, unsure of why and not paying attention to where she was going. She walked straight into someone and landed on the ground. When she looked up she saw a boy who looked like he could be an older version of Sasuke glaring at her, sharingan blazing in his eyes. Shi knew who it was based on descriptions she'd heard of what he looked like now a days. "Itachi-sama." she whispered, her tone mixing with fear.

"Shi-chan," Itachi spoke calmly "Do not get in my way."

"Itachi-sama, YOU LEAVE SASUKE-SAMA ALONE!"

"Shi-chan, do not force me to use it on you."
"I will not allow you to hurt Sasuke-sama."

"Shi-chan…Mangeyakou Sharingan."

Shi was shrouded in darkness feeling alone. Something snapped in her and she started screaming "GIVE HIM BACK! GIVE THEM BACK!"

Sasuke was already awake and glanced at Shi who was thrashing about screaming. He looked at the bandage on her arm; he'd separated their arms when he woke up. This wasn't the first time Shi had thrashed and screamed in her sleep. Each time he had awoken her and when he asked her what happened all she would mumble was that the darkness was coming t take him away. Sasuke had figured that the darkness was Itachi, and that her dreams were caused by her fear that his obsession with Itachi would eventually rip him away from her.

Sasuke walked over to her, sighing as he grabbed her arms and shook her. "Shi-chan, it's time to wake up!" Eventually Shi's eyes began to flutter open and she stared at Sasuke. He sighed, not even going to ask "Yeah, the darkness, I know." he murmured "If anyone at the Academy asks about your arm say it was an accident. I'm going to go buy us some breakfast. Get ready." With that Sasuke left Shi to her thoughts.

Shi stared at her arm for like what seemed to be forever. It hurt, a lot, but Sasuke had taught her how to endure the pain. Shi finally got up staring at the near empty walls. She could still remember what Sasuke's real home looked like, even if she'd only been there half a year. Shi could even remember what Itachi had been like, so warm and loving. He'd helped raise her from the day Sasuke had allowed her to stay. In fact Shi was certain Itachi was the main reason Shi had been allowed to stay.

But since the massacre Shi was conflicted inside, not sure whether or not to love him the way she always had, and feared that Itachi would come and take Sasuke away. She slowly pulled her night-shirt off, a shirt that so big on her it could double as a dress. It had been Itachi's shirt, which for unknown reasons he'd let her have. She pulled on her black shorts and black shirt with the Uchiha clan symbol and examined herself.

Itachi had always said she could have passed for Sasuke's double. And that comment only increased after Sasuke made her cut her hair, something she still hadn't forgiven him for. "Itachi-sama…" she whispered quietly and sat down by the only window in that room and waited for Sasuke to return.

Sasuke was on his way back, carrying some bread in a bag. Shi didn't eat much there days, not because she was on a diet, but just because she was no longer hungry; and he was too nervous to eat. Therefore the few slices of bread he did get would probably be too much. He was getting more and more used to it just being Shi and him. The fact Shi was going to the Academy scared him. The thought Shi might make friends and leave him behind scared him even more.

Sasuke stepped silently into the house and got tackled by Shi who pointed to a corner. Normally Sasuke would have loved a tackle from her as a greeting, but her reason for tackling him was the fact there was a snake in the corner of the room.

"Oh Shi, it's just a snake. A kunai solves that problem quickly." He pulled out his kunai, getting ready to strike.

"NO! Don't kill it. Please don't kill it!" She begged. Sasuke sighed and nodded his head, unable to kill the thing if it upset Shi that much. He took the bread out of the bag and handed it to Shi and using the blunt part of the kunai he pushed the snake into the bag, which he proceeded to pick up and carry carefully out of the house. He set it down on the ground gently and walked back into the house, getting tackled by Shi.

"Thank you Sasuke-sama!"

"Just no more freaking out, okay?"

"Sure thing." Shi clamored off of him and crawled over to the bread which she'd set on the floor. "So this is breakfast?" she asked quietly

"Yeah, eat as much as you want, I'll take what's left." Shi grabbed two slices, leaving three and went to her self-proclaimed corner and began munching quietly. Sasuke took two and glanced at the last one and broke it in half.

Itachi used to take the last piece was the look both their faces had as Sasuke handed Shi half and took the other for himself.

Sasuke and Shi stood together at the door leading to the street from their house. Neither ready to leave yet, or have enough bravery to take the first step. Finally Sasuke began leading, Shi following faithfully behind him.