The Actors

Summary: The Naruto world we know is real. The show we know is FICTION. The actors are real. With real lives, real friends, real tragedies. Life is awesome, until reports of a real-life Akatsuki shows up and threatens the life they know and love.

Disclaimer: I own the plot and my character, nothing less, nothing more. I wish I did own more. xD

Notes/Warnings: None this chapter. As a note, yes this story has an OC. Yes, it has Yaoi (Later on). Yes, the OC is related to someone on the show.

DEAL.

If you don't like it, don't read or review. Just hit the button that says, "Back" Or the little backspace key on your keyboard.

Thank you, all of you, who have read and love my stories. I hope you enjoy this one just like my others!

Chapter 2 - Rain

Only 10 minutes of light drizzle passed before Sasuke saw it on the dirt path.

A drowned cell phone.

Which meant Naruto's cousin was right around here, so he kept walking. He'd find her eventually.

"Sasuke?"

Turning to his left, he didn't see anyone but found a very large tree with most of the trunk torn out. He walked toward it, crouching and looking inside.

What he found was a very dry Kirei, looking back at him. "What are you doing here?" She asked as he found his way inside.

There was more than enough room for the two, the trees of Konoha unusually large. "I should ask you the same thing. Naruto's worried sick." He took off his jacket, wringing it out before putting it back on.

"I know…" She said, pulling her knees close to her. "I didn't mean to be gone this long."

Slipping out his phone, he handed it to her. "Call him. Let him know you're okay. I already saw yours out there."

She laughed. "Yeah…it was just starting to rain and I dropped it, but I wasn't stopping to go get it." She replied before calling her cousin.

It didn't even get to ring before Naruto picked up. "Sasuke?!"

"No, it's me." Kirei said, hearing Naruto's worried voice.

"Oh, thank god!! I was so worried about you!! Why didn't you call or anything?!" He yelled back, not mad at her, but still upset.

She smiled sheepishly. "I dropped my phone…"

Naruto sighed. "Okay then…Just get home when it stops raining, okay? I know you don't like the rain."

"I will." She answered, watching the rain outside. "Love you, nii-san."

"Love you, too. See ya!" The click on the line meant that he'd hung up, so Kirei did too.

Handing back his phone, Kirei smiled at Sasuke. "You don't need to stay here, if you want to go home. I'll be fine." She had an idea on Sasuke's personality and staying with someone inside a tree in the middle of a rainstorm was not one of the things he usually would do.

He raised an eyebrow. "You're not going home yet?"

She shook her head, watching the rain fall.

"Why?" He asked.

She was still silent, still watching.

Sasuke was wrong, as well as Shikamaru. She was not a carbon copy of Naruto, like they thought. They were just eerie similar in some ways. He sighed. "Alright then…if I tell you what I'm scared of, will you tell me?"

She looked over at him in shock. "You're scared of something?!" She laughed. "The great Uchiha Sasuke who killed Orochimaru off is scared of something!!"

He smiled, hearing her laugh. "Yeah, yeah." He sighed first. Hopefully Kirei wasn't a loudmouth like Naruto was. "I'm scared of snakes."

Her laughter died down, but her smile remained as she looked at him. "…that was totally unexpected."

"Yeah, it usually catches people off guard." He chuckled. "I've had a fear of them since I was a kid."

Ruffling her eyebrows, she said, "But you work with them…"

He shook his head. "Not really. Everytime you see me in the show with a snake around, it's one of Naruto's Kage Bushin's, or Naruto himself." He explained. "Now, since I told you, you tell me."

She looked back out at the rain, noticing the increase in water and the rumbling thunder. "I have Ombrophobia." She glanced back at him, seeing the confused look. "The fear of rain or being rained on."

"So that's why you didn't go back for your phone." He thought out loud.

She smiled a bit, looking over at him. "Yeah, I've had it since I was a kid too. Just playing in the rain one day, got a fever and had to go to the hospital…just a bad experience." She explained, shrugging her shoulders. "But like I said, you don't have to stay here with me. You've probably got better things to do anyway."

He thought for a minute. Yeah, he could've let her stay there and go home, maybe to train or something…but, what were a few hours in a rainstorm? Plus, Naruto might kill him if he left her alone, even if she told him it was okay. "Nah," He said after a minute of thinking. "I don't mind sitting in the rain."

"Out of the rain." She corrected in a playful tone.

He smirked. "Yeah, out of the rain."

"Here." Sasuke said as he handed his tailor made Uchiha jacket to Kirei, who sat right next to him.

An hour and a half had passed and slowly, daylight was fading although the rain was picking up. With the fading daylight and the increasing rain, the temperature was dropping fast.

He could withstand cold temperatures, but he wasn't sure about her.

"No, it's okay, I'm fine." She hadn't moved from her spot, knees pulled up close, arms around her legs, chin resting on them.

He didn't believe her. "You're shivering."

"Oh, fine, you worry wart." She took his jacket, setting it around her shoulders. She had to admit, she was cold and hadn't expected it to rain this long.

"Better?" He asked, seeing her shivering nearly stop.

She nodded. "Yeah, actually. Thanks."

He could've sworn she moved closer to him. "You're welcome."

She sighed and looked out into the growing darkness. Looking closely, she could've sworn that the rain had stopped. "Did it stop?" She mumbled, crawling from her spot the opening of the tree.

What she didn't hear, Sasuke heard. A crack resonated from further up the very high tree, so high, that he almost didn't hear it, but he knew what it meant. "Hey, Kirei, get back here for a second."

"Why?" She asked, smiling and turning her head back to see him. "It stopped raining!"

He heard it again, but now it was closer, much closer. He had to move before she moved outside, or else… he reached forward from his spot, wrapping his arm fully around her waist, forcing her backwards and up against the tree.

"Sasuke, what are you - ?!" Confused, with her blue eyes wide, she stared up at him as he nearly sat on top of her.

Second later, she got her answer.

A huge tree branch crash-landed right in front of their exit and if Kirei was still looking there, she would've been crushed. Otherwise, dead.

"You alright?" Sasuke asked, still guarding her.

Heart racing, she sighed, trying to calm down. "Y-yeah…I th-think so." She blinked a few times, eyes adjusting to the darkness.

"Good. I think Naruto might kill me if I let something happen to you." He said, moving back to his original spot beside her.

She chuckled, still trying to get her heart to slow down. "He just might…but what are we going to do? We're stuck."

He sighed first, looking at the branch. "I could get us out of here," He mumbled, thinking about using the Chidori to just rip through the branch. It was a sure way out, but also endangered Kirei. "But that's not the best plan of action."

She sighed again, trying to keep her calm. "Should we call Naruto?"

"Yeah." He nodded, pulling out his phone. The light was enough to make somewhat of a difference in the trunk. "Hey, Naruto…Plans have…changed."

"What?" Naruto asked back, still knowing that Kirei was safe. "What happened?"

"We had a tree branch fall over our exit. We're stuck." He explained.

A hint of worry came over the line. "But you're okay?"

"Yeah, we're both fine."

He sighed. "Well, we have a few options. We can search through the night to find you guys and get you out, or we can wait until morning and get you out."

Sasuke thought it over. He really didn't want to wait until morning…but without someone like Neji, Karin or Kiba who could track people, it would be hard to find them. After all, Sasuke only found Kirei because she called to him. "We'll wait."

"Just keep her safe, okay? I already lost her brother, I don't need to lose her either." Naruto told him in a soft voice. "Don't go asking about her brother either. He's a very touchy subject."

"You got it." If one could understand the subject of brother and anything touchy, it was Sasuke. His past was very touchy as well.

Hanging up after goodbye, Kirei couldn't help but ask. "So what's going on? Are they coming to get us?"

"In the morning, yes. It's too dark for them now, but they'll come for us." He assured, putting his phone away.

Kirei knew she was in good hands, but she couldn't help but worry. After all, she really didn't know Sasuke. All she knew was that he was best friends with her cousin. "…Okay."

He could sense her worry. "You'll be fine, Kirei. I'm right here with you." With his words, he felt her move closer to him. "You go ahead and go to sleep, I'll stay up."

She sighed, gently setting her head on his shoulder, somewhat hesitant to. She wasn't sure if he'd let her, but he didn't move at all. Actually, he relaxed, which caused her to relax. "Okay then…" She sighed, closing her eyes. "You're a lot nicer than I thought you were."

He smiled, sighing as well.

It was nice to have company for a night.

"Kirei, wake up."

Comfortable…warm…and in La-la-land, Kirei did not want to wake up.

Again she was nudged awake. "Come on, Naruto's here to get us out."

Sasuke's voice.

She sighed before finally waking up. "I'm up…sleepy, but up…" She removed herself from Sasuke's shoulder, finding the darkness had become very light.

A head of spiky blonde hair filled part of the opening. "Hey, you're both alive!!" He cried, helping his cousin out first.

Sasuke followed, seeing a few Anbu jump off until it was just the three of them. "Yeah, we're alive."

Kirei had her eyes closed, still sleepy. She felt Naruto kiss her forehead and wrap and arm around her shoulder. "I'm awake, I'm awake." She mumbled, leaning against him.

He just laughed, holding onto her. "Alright, let's go home."

Sasuke walked with the two for the time being, talking with Naruto until they had to go their separate ways, being that their houses were nearly on opposite sides of Konoha.

"She was okay then?" Naruto asked, knowing that Kirei was sleeping while she walked. She wouldn't remember the conversation anyway.

Sasuke nodded, "Yeah. I could tell she was a little worried, but she was fine."

"Thanks for staying with her…I didn't think you would for a minute there." He said. Sasuke wasn't the emo bastard that he was in the show, but he wasn't generous for no reason. He figured that he stayed with Kirei just because the two of them were friends.

"It's no problem….I figured you'd both appreciate it." He answered.

"I did." Naruto nodded. "I can't always be there for her, like her brother was."

Sasuke knew better not to ask, but he did anyway. "What happened to him?"

He sighed, looking at Kirei. "He died about a year ago…shame of it was, it was all an accident."

Sasuke figured it was better not to ask details. If he lost his brother, he wasn't sure what he would do, being that they were the last two of the Uchiha clan. "That's why she came here?"

Naruto nodded. "Yep. She could've easily lived on her own, but we didn't want her to. For right now she's living with us, but that's not going to last long." He glanced over and at the look from Sasuke, continued. "She gets in fights with the head maid."

"Nami?" Sasuke asked, remembering the head maid who practically raised Naruto after his mother died.

Naruto nodded. "Yeah…they have…different views…and just like me," He smiled, looking at Kirei. "She's the most stubborn thing, so she'll just run out. That's why my dad's fixing up that loft we have."

Sasuke remembered the loft, being there a few times to spend the night or just to hang out. "It's a good idea."

Before the two knew it, their separation point came up. Naruto and Kirei were heading right, Sasuke left.

"We'll see ya tomorrow?" Naruto mused, already knowing the answer.

Sasuke just smirked, knowing that Naruto already know the answer. "No shit, we're filming tomorrow."

"See ya later."

Sasuke nodded. "Later."

A few minutes after parting ways, Kirei began to wake up, blinking her blue eyes to adjust.

"Good morning, sleepyhead." Naruto smiled, tousling her hair, waking her up further.

She smiled. "Shut up, I was sleepy." Then it occurred to her. Where was Sasuke?

Seeing her look around them, he figured she was wondering where Sasuke went to. "He's on his way home."

Kirei looked up at him. "But I still have his jacket…" She pulled the still very warm jacket from her shoulders.

Naruto stopped, turning toward their separation point. "Well, he couldn't of gotten far, just go right up to the three-way and head right."

"Thanks, Nii-san!" She yelled, running down the way. "I'll be right back!"

It wasn't long until she saw the head of black spiky hair, slowly moving along. She didn't call out his name, knowing if she did, she might draw attention to the two and if anyone knew anything about the Uchiha, it was that they did not crave attention. The less they got, the happier they were.

So, when she finally reached him, she simply tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey,"

He stopped and turned, recognizing the voice. Eyes landing on her, he asked, "Didn't I just see you?"

She giggled. "Yeah, I know, but I kinda just woke up and realized I still had your jacket." She held said jacket in her hands, holding it out for him.

He shook his head. "Keep it, just in case you get stuck in a tree again."

She laughed. "I don't think I'll be getting stuck in a tree again for a while. But you're sure you want to give away your jacket?"

"I'm sure."

Sasuke watched with interest as the girl he barely knew turned and looked behind her, then on both sides. What was she looking for? "Oh god, if he saw me, he'd kill me…" She mumbled.

"What are – " Sasuke found himself speechless as Kirei reached up, very gently kissing him on the cheek.

"Thanks, Sasuke!!" Before he could blink, too shocked to, she ran off, back down toward her cousin.

The first thing through Sasuke's mind was to not stand like an idiot in the middle of the street and head back home. The second was why was he so shocked? He'd had a girlfriend before and they kissed…So why did this unnerve him? Maybe because it was a girl he barely knew and for the fact that her cousin would kill him if he found out. Yes, that was the reason.

Arriving home in a few minutes, he walked in, silent as always.

"Welcome home, it's about time." His older brother, Itachi, said as he sat at the kitchen table, a hot cup of coffee in his mug. Another raven like Sasuke, he was the elder of the depleted Uchiha clan.

"Sorry, I got held up." Sasuke replied, pouring himself a mug.

Itachi raised an eyebrow. Sasuke never apologized. For anything. "What happened?"

"What?"

Itachi smirked. "Something happened last night. Did you get laid?"

Even with this question, Sasuke remained his calm, just raising an eyebrow. "No, of course not. I haven't had a girlfriend since I dated Sakura."

"Well," Itachi said, still smirking. "Something happened. Just tell me."

Sighing, he wondered why his brother was such a pest. "Fine. Naruto's cousin's in town for the rest of her life. She went missing, I found her and we got stuck inside a tree trunk." Sasuke explained, right after taking a sip. At least this might keep him awake.

Itachi smiled. "And that's when you got laid?"

Sasuke sighed. Did Itachi ever think about something other than getting laid? "No, dumbass, she's not like that. I gave her my jacket last night to keep her warm and she went to return it this morning, but I told her to keep it."

That wasn't all that strange. Sasuke had done it before. "Go on."

"And well…" He said indifferently. "She kissed me in return." He took another sip.

Getting up, Itachi smirked. "So that's what's up with you this morning."

Sasuke arched an eyebrow at him.

"You like her, stupid." Itachi said, not needing to know said girl to know that Sasuke liked her. He knew his brother his whole life, so if anyone could read Sasuke, it was Itachi.

Sasuke grimaced. "I don't, first off. Second off, I'm not allowed to."

"That's a shame," Itachi said, beginning to walk out of the room. "You'd be much less emo if you got laid more." Before Sasuke could get a retort in, he vanished.

Sasuke just sighed.

Walking past the huge office, Kirei doubled back, swearing she heard something. Poking her head in to find Naruto and Uncle Yondy, she asked, "Did I hear someone say Suna?"

Sitting with his back toward her, Naruto turned to her. "Yeah, we're heading there to film in a few days."

"We're just finalizing everything." Uncle Yondy finished. Seeing the excited look on her face he asked, "Would you like to go to?"

She gasped, bouncing in the room and sitting with them. "Yeah! I can't wait to see Gaara again!!"

Both looked at her, confused.

"How do you know Gaara?" Naruto asked, remembering the redhead Kazekage and how it was hard for him to make friends.

Kirei smiled. "I met him on my travels, showed him a picture of us," She motioned to herself and Naruto. "As kids and explained that we were cousins and he let me stay there for a few days. I told him I'd be back someday." She explained.

The Yondaime laughed. He should've known that if Naruto was friends with Gaara, Kirei would be too. "Okay then…I'll add your name to the transcripts and you guys'll head out in three days."

"YES!!" She cried, jumping up from her seat, hugging her cousin first, then her Uncle. "Oh, my god, I'm so excited! I swear I won't get in the way or anything and I'll do whatever you tell me to! I'm gonna go pack!" She screamed, eyes alive with color, smiling broadly as she ran out of the room, heading to her room to pack.

The two simply laughed.

"I'm not sure she heard the "leaving in three days" part." Yondaime said, scribbling on the transcripts.

Naruto smiled. "I'm not sure she cares."