(A/N): Ok... second chapter up! Please, please R&R if you want me to keep writing! Sasuke says so too!
Sasuke: Do it for me, please, this girl won't shut up...
Disclamer: I do not own Naruto.
They arrived back in Sound after a days travel, and just as he predicted, Kira was punished for not completing the mission. Sasuke did all he could not to interfere, knowing if he did, it would just make matters worse. She now sat, a broken wrist, and bloody face, in front of him. Kira was trying to hold herself together, but it wasn't working.
"Arigato, Sasuke-San." She repeated. He had managed to carry her out of the room before things got worse, and re-bandage her wounds. He just sighed, and left her to sit against the wall of his room.
"Kira-Chan, why do you refuse to leave?" He gazed blankly out his window, eyeing the dark sky. Kira shuffled a bit, then gave him a confused look. Why was he asking her this? What did it matter to him? "Nani?" She whispered, inquiringly.
He gave another sigh, and walked past her, avoiding her gaze. She could tell he was disappointed in her. In fact, she was disappointed in herself. 'Kira, it's fine, let it go. Everything will be ok.' She repeatedly told herself this, then gave in to the strange desire to get up and follow Sasuke. She put one hand against his wall, and another on the ground, as she tried to stand herself up. Kira stumbled a bit, but gained control of her legs, and limped out of his door into the hallway. She quickened her pace when she arrived at the chamber, but shook off her nerves when she reached the front gates of the hideout.
It was beautiful outside. The cool breeze swept a few leaves past her face, and her hair blew to her side with the wind. Kira looked up at the sky. It was an eerie black and blue color, but it made her feel calm. She then averted her gaze to the moon. Immediately, she became lost in its majestic glow. Never had Kira felt so much emotion, then when she stood, studying one of nature's finest possessions. She might have completely lost consciousness, if a soothing voice hadn't called out to her a second later.
"Couldn't sit still, could you?" Sasuke brought himself closer to the girl, and Kira felt the warmth of his body approach her. Her heart began to race, faster than it did the time before, when he had her pinned against a tree.
"Hai, Sasuke-San." She spoke, softly.
"Sasuke."
"Nani?"
"My name isn't Sasuke-San, it's just... Sasuke." He paused before reciting the word Sasuke. Did it really make a difference what she called him or not?
Kira turned her head, looking at the boy with question. "Hm." She saw him turn his eyes towards her, and they exchanged glances for a moment. The awkward silence was broken by Sasuke's movement towards a nearby tree. He leaned up against the wood, his arms folded across his chest, and closed his eyes.
"The night is so peaceful, isn't it?" Kira spoke with such a hint of relaxation in her voice, it made Sasuke smile softly. "Hai, it is." The girl looked over. She hadn't expected him to answer her. She breathed out lightly, and regained her posture, resuming her interest on the sky.
"I don't know why, Sasuke." She held her head up, towards the moon. He opened his eyes, and gazed questioningly at her. "Nani?" He whispered.
"You know how it is." She let her expression soften a bit, and veered her attention towards Sasuke. "I can't leave."
"What's keeping you here then?" Kira walked towards him, slowly, not to disturb the peaceful silence. His eyes followed her every movement, and he couldn't help but notice the hint of disbelief in her eyes.
"I'm practically his slave Sasuke. I have nowhere to go! No one will take me in! But what about you, why are you still here?" He sensed the anger flaring in her tone, and he thought about the last question. Honestly, Sasuke didn't know how to answer. He just closed his eyes, and retorted back.
"There is nothing for me there in Konoha. I have no family, no reason to go back."
"Then why did you leave in the first place!"
"My choices are my own, and they have nothing to do with you."
"Then why do you care so much about my life here with Orochimaru?" He stopped short. There was no way he could answer her. She had won. Kira overlooked him, carefully, before turning back so she could head off to her room. She left Sasuke to stand, puzzled with her response. Why did he so badly want her to leave Orochimaru, and this place? Before he could even take note in what he was doing, he had caught the girl in her tracks, and nudged her against the gates of the building.
"Because he's destroying you, Kira." He whispered. The warmth of his voice trailed down her neck, and made the girl uneasy. "Sasuke." She hesitated to answer him, and realized this was more an act of punishment from the boy. He released her from his grip, and she fell, flat onto the hard ground. Having been wounded from before, Kira could not pick herself up. Sasuke walked from in front of her, and let himself back into the hideout, leaving her to sit alone.
All his anger, his emotion, everything he had wanted to say to her was finally out. She replayed his voice over and over in her head, as tears gathered in her eyes once more. She gripped the ground, and pushed herself up against the cold, iron bars. Closing her eyes slightly, Kira began to drift off into a sleep. She felt the hate and anger bubbling inside of her gut. Sasuke was really trying to help her. But she wasn't willing to open herself to him, in the same way he wasn't willing to open himself to her. Kira relaxed a bit, lowering her shoulders. The rustling of leaves in the distance calmed her nerves.
"Arigato, Sasuke."
The rays of sun danced merrily across the forest, and caught fast upon Kira's eyelids. She groaned, emotionlessly, and slowly pulled open her eyes to reveal the morning son. The forest lay perfectly untouched, with gusts of wind picking up dirt from the ground every once and a while. The pale girl closed her eyes, and wearily stood herself up. She only gasped slightly at the short pain in her chest, then made her way towards the other end of the forest. For a second, deep thought overcome her, and she made sure she wouldn't regret her decision. A last look at the gates behind her, and she continued off.
"I'll be back soon, Sasuke"
The trip through the forest was rough for Kira, but she pulled herself against it. An occasional sound of children playing told her she was close. She was nearing Konoha, the village hidden in leaves. The girl stopped short, on the edge of the forest, and gazed suspiciously around, making sure there were no Jounin or ANBU around before she made her entrance into the city. She straightened her back, and fixed her hair, so it hung roughly to the side of her head. Kira tried her best to cover up most of the blood seeping from her wounds, but it wouldn't work. She gave a small sigh, and made her way, walking one foot in front of the other, towards the small village.
First, there was a playground, with a few kids running along in the sand, and chasing the others away. Kira shook her head and laughed to herself. She seen a ramen bar, and two people sitting on booths, discussing over a meal. Being as nosy as she was, the girl strode over and managed to seat herself quite comfortably into a seat. She looked over at the two men, and listened to their conversation without showing any sign of interest.
"Hai, Iruka-Sensei! Jiraiya taught me so much! But I really like being back here, in Konoha. Back home with everyone else." A seemingly hyper blonde finished his ramen, and continued to talk.
"And Sakura-Chan has gotten better! And how come Neji and lazy Shikamaru-San became Jounin!" The boy in the black and orange jumpsuit almost fell off his seat, as the man next to him laughed.
"Oi, Naruto-San, be patient, you will have time to apply for Jounin exams next year."
"Nani? Next year? I was planning to already be Hokage of the village by that time!"
"Your still Naruto, that's for sure." The boy gave a hint of depression, then picked himself up off the seat. Kira looked away quickly, not wanting to be caught eavesdropping on the two. But just when she thought she was safe--
"Oi! Who are you? I haven't seen you around here before." He smiled, widely, and took a seat next to the girl. She moved over to allow him room, and wondered if she should really tell him who she was. Kira looked him up and down. He seemed harmless, not like he was ready to start asking if she belonged to a 'Wanted' organization or something.
"Like what you see?" Naruto blushed, but very little. Kira shook her head in disbelief then hit the boy over the top of the head, in a playful manner.
"Baka!" She called out, sarcastically. He overlooked her, with interest, then returned his gaze into her eyes.
"My name is Uzumaki Naruto!" He then looked at her inquiringly.
"Kira." She replied, and then gave the boy an approving smile. That smile faded when she realized he was now looking at her strangely. Like he didn't believe something she said.
"No clan name? Just 'Kira'?" She sighed, then got up from the booth, limping slowly towards the exit. Naruto followed close behind, and helped her out the door. She blushed, and began to explain.
"Nah, I really don't know Naruto-San. I've been raised by different people all my life, so I never really knew my blood family." She made an excuse for not telling him that she was found by Orochimaru as a child. He closed his eyes, and smiled happily. Putting his arms behind his head, he stood, staring up at the night sky.
"That's ok. I know how it feels to be alone myself." He looked over at the girl, standing next to him. Kira gazed into the moon, and felt herself being taken over again by its mystery. Naruto breathed out, then spoke, almost in a whisper.
"I wonder if he's looking up at the same moon." Kira didn't turn to face him, just listened. He seemed to be talking to himself.
"When are you coming home, Sasuke?" The girl's breathing became slower, and she closed her eyes, to think of the meaning behind his words.
"Kira-San, are you crying?" She looked over to see Naruto facing her. He frowned subtly, and removed his arms from behind his head.
The girl didn't answer. She just kept her eyes directed on the moon, and began to loathe Sasuke's cold heart. He had emotionally deceived all these people. He said he had no family, but yet here were his friends, wondering about his safety every night. She began to mentally hate him, and completely lost track of reality.
"Oi, Kira. It's ok, I'm not mad at you. What's wrong?" The boy brought his hand forward, and gently wiped the tears from her face. She smiled sheepishly at him, and then started to walk away.
"You have a good heart, Naruto-San. I'm sure Sasuke misses you all here." Before he could answer, Kira collapsed on the ground. She struggled to support her legs, but they had gone numb.
"Kira-San!" Naruto hurried over, and saw her attempting to help herself back up onto her feet. He looked down at her, and saw her look back up, watery eyes. Kira tried to smile, but the pain was unbearable. She figured she would just crawl over to a tree, and rest against it for the night. Then she felt herself being gracefully lifted off the ground. Her reflexes told her to grasp something, so she hung onto the boy tightly, and he carried her further into the village.
(A/N): Ok, just in case you were wondering, it's not going to be Naruto/OC. Haha. But please R&R, I'll try and update as soon as possible!
