This was inspired by my best friend, known to you as Ninja Pirate 25. She helps me get into these dark, angsty moods, so thank you! This is dedicated in your honor. (Oh, and Sasuke's.) And you... if you review.


I gazed at him in fascination. "I'll never understand you."

"I didn't ask you to." He gave his cold response with an even colder glare. The icy indifference in his black eyes roused a fury within me I'd never felt before.

"So you live for revenge." He turned away, the wind blowing in his dark hair and howling through the forest. "You let your foolish resentment tear you apart. Only the weakest of shinobi would let themselves stoop so low!"

"When did I ask for your opinion?"

"It's not my opinion! It's the truth!" My fists shook and tears spilled from my eyes. He looked over his shoulder, handsome face blurred in the moonlight.

"No, Keata. My brother killed my family." Tears now filled his eyes as well. "He killed my mom. She died at the hands of her son. Her child." I'd never heard his voice break before. "How can I let him live?"

"Revenge isn't the answer!" I held out my hands. "Look at you, the pride of our village. Naruto's best friend. The so-called heartthrob of Konoha. Sasuke Uchiha. What happened to that loyalty? You'd surrender yourself just to get stronger? You're a disgrace, you really are."

"Shut up, Keata." I closed my eyes. "Just shut up." I fell to my knees, gritting my teeth to stifle a sob. "Of all the people I've ever talked to, you came the closest to understanding me. Keata, I was orphaned by my damn brother!" I bit down harder. "And all these… all these girls wanting me for my body, not one trying to feel my pain, how would you feel?"

Unable to respond, I opened my eyes. I was shocked to find him kneeling before me. "Not one person in your town cares about me. Nobody except you. And you obviously don't value that."

"But Sasuke…" I hated myself for sounding so much like Sakura. "You bastard."

He half-smiled as I sniffed weakly. "If you respect me you'll let me go. I have to." He reached out toward my face but I pulled away. His eyes darkened as my gaze held his; frightened, disappointed, and betrayed. The wind scraped my arms and face. Again he reached for me, his fingers shakily touching my lips. For a moment I closed my eyes, heart aching as it beat with a will I no longer thought it had. His touch was so soft… I slapped it away with a crack that echoed through the forest. Sasuke stepped back as I glared at him, shaking with hate.

"Fine. Whatever."

Under his gaze I found my feet, turning back toward Konoha. "Goodbye, Sasuke."

In a flash he disappeared.