Now that I knew who it was I was indifferent to him. However, I decided I couldn't just reveal myself. I quickly created a shadow clone. It set off to distract Sasuke, hopping from tree to tree. I descended from the branch I was standing on. When I reached the ground I ducked for cover in the tall grass once again. I watched as the clone moved around the clearing in a circle. That was the plan. Within no time Sasuke had his back to me. I retrieved a kunai from my pouch... and ambushed. Sasuke had no time to react as I rushed up to him. A blink later and I was standing behind him. My arm held his shoulder and the kunai blade was pressed against his throat.

"Well done," he smirked.

"Why are you laughing?" I hissed back.

"Just because," he replied.

Aggravated, I applied a greater pressure to the blade. I expected to see his flesh tear. Instead, I found myself grasping at a cloud of smoke. Shocked, I took a step back. And a good thing I did too. I felt a sting as a shuriken grazed my cheek. The others flew harmlessly by. If I had still been standing there... I shuddered. I heard footsteps behind me. Turning, I came face to face with Sasuke. A period of silence descended upon us as we evaluated each other, here in the middle of the night.

"Well. That was fun," I started.

"I-I'm sorry Lakota," he said. "I didn't realize it was you."

I shrugged. "You weren't supposed to." He looked at me like I was crazy.

"Why did you attack me?" he asked. I shrugged my shoulders again.

"Felt like having some fun," I told him. Sasuke growled.

"What does that mean?"

"Well," I explained. "I originally came here wanting to train but when I saw you I decided that I could use you for my training. Of course, I didn't know it was you when I first threw the kunai in your direction. Oh, and I made sure they wouldn't hit you, just in case you wouldn't sense them as they flew towards you. Any ninja should have been able to, but you were training and all and then-" he placed a hand over my mouth.

"Alright, I get it," was all he said.

I felt my cheeks flush briefly. This boy was standing here. With me. In the middle of the night. Alone. Sighing, he dropped his hand from my mouth. I smiled and touched where his hand had been.

"Sasuke?" I asked.

"Yeah?"

"Why are you here?"

"I like to be alone. Training helps to get my mind off things," he explained.

"No, I mean why are you here? With me?" I clarified.

He looked surprised. "That's a good question."
"I-I mean, you d-don't have to stay if you don't w-want to," I stammered. "It's just-"

He cut me off. "I'll be leaving then. I have no reason to remain here as my training's been interrupted."

I cringed as he said that. He turned his back to me and started walking away. I suddenly felt like a horrible person. I hadn't thought of it that way. And I didn't really want him to go either. It wasn't often that I spent time socializing with others. This seemed like an opportunity to me. I got quiet, unsure of what to do. Sasuke stopped a few yards away from me and looked back.

"Well, are you coming?" he asked.

Feeling a rush flow through my veins, I skipped over next to him. He waited for me to stop next to him before we walked back towards the Leaf Village, side by side under the stars in the sky.