Chapter One

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AN: This is the sequel to my story "Invisible." I am currently working on it as my NaNoWriMo novel but I thought it would be good to get some feedback from you guys as well. I'm not really editing this so sorry if you see any errors, but I'm in a hurry to get this complete by the end of November. So wish me luck. :)

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Disclaimer: I own nothing, but I'm sure you already knew that.

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Ah, sweet beautiful warmth, the heat that kept the world alive. He loved his job, his life; he didn't ever want to leave it until she came. He was perfectly content living by himself, alone, the last of his kind. He knew he would live a long and peaceful life. In all of his two hundred years he had come to the conclusion, he could live in his home forever and never have to worry about the things that happened above in the outside world. That is until she stumbled into this unknown active volcano.

He remembered every detail about her. The way her fear turned into excitement, how her doubt turned into belief. He remembered the way her body felt pressed against his own when he tried to share his world with her. He remembered the promise she made to him, that was never fulfilled. Now he could only wonder what had happened to her, why she never returned to give him company. Still, he guessed she had forgotten about him, but he didn't believe that himself. She was too interested in the world he lived in. Perhaps she hadn't found the right excuse to leave her friends yet. Or maybe it was all just a big fat lie.

Sighing Sasuke slipped into the ever present heat that surrounded him on a daily bases. It was much like one big giant bath tub filled to the brim with molten lava. Getting comfortable on the rocks, Sasuke leaned back and shut his eyes. For some reason he just couldn't bring himself to think that she was the lying type of girl. She seemed honest enough. If she wasn't honest then wouldn't there be twenty different government agents trying to break down his door to bring him in for some experimentation. Only time would tell. It has been three years after all, and people were prone to making slip ups with huge secrets to keep.

Letting his mind wonder Sasuke found himself slowly be drifted asleep by the constant gentle flow of the warmth reminding him that he was home.

"Naruto if I have to pay for one more of your fucking NASA cameras, I am going to flip shit!" Sakura said while tapping her foot impatiently waiting for the weak reply that was sure to happen from her antsy companion.

"Sakura, you know I didn't mean to drop it… it just kind of slipped." Naruto couldn't help but shift his gaze back and forth from the broken camera to a very red faced Sakura.

"I'm telling ya, if you slip up one more time…" She didn't have to finish the sentence before Naruto started shaking his head in agreement.

"I know the payment won't even make it to your family. Sakura I said I was sorry; you don't have to get so upset. If anyone is paying for it then Kakashi is. I mean he is the one who keeps track of these things right?" He put out his lip slightly trying to relay cuteness to the situation, when Sakura puffed out her cheeks and huffed.

"You can't think that way, it isn't right. I have half a mind to let you pay for it yourself." With that she stormed off to her own hotel room and slammed the door.

"Ah, Sakura you don't really mean that do you?" No answer was heard so he dropped it and made his way over to his shared room with Kakashi. When he entered he found his favorite traveling buddy lying stretched out on the bed reading a new geographic magazine that just came out. When Naruto slumped down onto his own bed, Kakashi set down his book and raised a concerned eyebrow.

"What happened this time?" Naruto sighed.

"I dropped the new camera." Kakashi raised his other eyebrow.

"That was it?" Turning so he could face Kakashi, Naruto rolled his eyes.

"No, but I don't know what could be making her like this."

"Oh, I see." Kakashi picked up his magazine and continued where he left off. Naruto jumped up off of his bed and started to pace.

"I mean she is always yelling at me, pointing out my mistakes, making me feel dumb. What is wrong with her? She wasn't acting like this on our last expedition."

"Maybe she is just nervous and is taking it out on you. You know how she hates to admit that she is nervous about something." Naruto shook his head in agreement while still walking back and forth. Pausing a moment to place his hand on his chin.

"Do you think that we could start the new assignment earlier than secluded?" Once again Kakashi set his magazine down and gave Naruto a questioning look.

"And how do you suppose I get the government to approve such hasty decisions?" Naruto shrugged his shoulders.

"How the hell am I supposed to know? You deal with that shit all the time." Kakashi nodded.

"This is true but that doesn't mean that I can persuade them to change their minds." Naruto stepped in front of Kakashi's bed and dropped down on to his knees.

"Please Kakashi! I don't think I can handle another week of nervous Sakura! I can see it already, her throwing what is left of my body to the lions once she gets through with me." Kakashi rolled his eyes and returned to his magazine.

"Stop being so dramatic Naruto, you've dealt with it before." Naruto hung his head in defeat and mumbled under his breath.

"Yeah but that was before she started to change."

"Mmm, what was that?" Getting up from his knees Naruto walked the two steps back to his bed and flopped down.

"Nothing, just wake me in time for breakfast." Kakashi nodded, and turned to the next page as Naruto weaved his way into the blankets and fell asleep instantly.

After slamming the door shut, Sakura made her way over to her temporary closet in a huff. She just couldn't get over the fact of Naruto constantly messing up. Picking out something comfortable to wear she quickly locked herself into the bathroom and started the hot water for her bath. While turning the knob she paused in her actions. Was Naruto really the one to blame for all of the mishaps that has happened lately? Or was it her stress of the new assignment that was getting to her nerves? Shrugging her pale shoulders she slipped out of her clothes and eased into the very hot water. She would just have to apologize later for the way that Naruto was being treated as of late.

Dipping her head under the comfort of the hot water, Sakura blew bubbles from her mouth before emerging from the depths and shaking her head to let the droplets of water trickle down her neck and shoulders. It was amazing really, that she could even stand the extreme temperature of the water. She used to be very hyper sensitive to warmer temperatures that it would almost persuade her to find a different career path; but being her stubborn self she just couldn't find any other career paths that would work for her adventurous, scientific nature. And if it wasn't for her unique job then she would have never met him.

Of course, if it wasn't for him then she could have gone on with her scientific self without a care in the world, but he put her in a difficult situation. She should have listened to her mentor, Tsunade, when she told her it wasn't safe to go back into the field. Sakura however, just had to push her luck and go on that treacherous mission. Looking back on it though, she couldn't help but thank herself for doing it anyway. Her only regret was that she couldn't keep her promise, well that wasn't true either, she was here trying to get back to that unexplored mountain. Now she just had to await approval from the stupid government, and that could take a while.

After thirty minutes had past, Sakura forced herself from the fast cooling water before she could get a chill. She hated cold weather. Whether it was thirty degrees, or eighty degrees she always had to wear a jacket. It was troublesome really, to have to deal with that considering she lived in Arizona where the average temperature in the summer months was close to one hundred degrees. It was quite embarrassing to see people in tank tops and shorts, when she was decked out in long pants, and long sleeved shirts.

Once she was dry Sakura pulled on her grey sweat pants and a white T-shirt. Oh yeah, that night she was going to get a good night's sleep, even if she had to turn the heater on in seventy five degree weather. Before she could climb into her soft comfy looking bed, a knock at the door drew her attention elsewhere. Forcing herself not to get angry because of the unlikely intrusion the door had made, she lazily walked over to the door and peaked through the peep hole. Grey hair spiked up in odd directions was what greeted her. Sighing she unlocked the door and placed a hand on her delicate hip.

"What do you want Kakashi?" He smiled.

"It's about Naruto, mind if I come in?" She sighed again but moved so that he could enter. He sat down on the chair by the desk and motioned for her to sit as well. She complied and plunked down on the edge of the mattress. Waiting a few moments of awkward silence, Sakura broke it by turning on the T.V to sirus radio. The soft sound of violins started to sprout out from the speakers and the two occupants in the room started to relax.

"So, he's not too upset is he?" Kakashi nodded.

"No, but he is a little irritated." Sakura rolled her eyes.

"Well, I'm a little irritated. Doesn't he know how expensive those stupid cameras are?" Kakashi held up a hand to silence her before she could start up another one of her rants.

"Yes he knows, but you have to understand that he doesn't do it on purpose. Believe me the last thing he wants to do is make you angry." Sakura's air left her body in a sign of defeat.

"I can't help it Kakashi, he just irks me to no end." Kakashi smiled in understanding.

"I know. It's a good way to know that you care about each other." She rolled her eyes again.

"Please don't get all cheesy on me." He chuckled slightly while standing up to leave.

"Well, anyway think about what I said and maybe you'll be able to find some kind of compromise." Sakura nodded then smiled halfheartedly.

"Kakashi could you do me a favor and tell him I'm sorry?"

"Oh of course. What do you want me to say this time though?" Her eyes drifted to the left before slowly coming up to meet his gaze again.

"Just tell him that I'm just stressed out about this new assignment, and if the government doesn't get that answer in soon I'm going to have hay day of freaking out." Kakashi chuckle again.

"Alright, try to get some sleep. The answer should be in by tomorrow morning." Sakura nodded then shut the door and dead bolted it. Slowly making her way back to the bed, she curled up under the big warm heated blanket, and let the gentle wave of comfort wash over her in the sweet melody of the song that was playing. Before she let her mind go all the way she couldn't get the image of dark ebony orbs out of her foggy mind, and ended up just taking them with her to the dreams that were sure to come.