CHAPTER 4

-Can You Repeat That?-

The last couple of days had been awkward with in their own right. After Sasuke had bluntly denied that he and Kai were a 'thing', tension and awkward silence filled the empty room most of the time. Yeah, she knew that they weren't a 'thing', as he called it, but Sasuke had flat out denied that they were even friends. After being paired with him for so long she kind of expected him to recognize her as a friend, but to no avail.

"Ow" she spoke softly while attempting to get comfortable in the ever unwanted hospital bed. "Stop squirming around and it won't hurt" Sasuke didn't really like Kai, in any way, but he deep, deep, down felt a little remorse for having denied their friendship. If there was anybody who understood him in the slightest it was her. "Shut up, I don't need you to tell me what to do" her glare read: 'Speak again and you will get it.' Truly she had no reason to be angry at him; there were people that she didn't like, so why would she be mad that there were people who didn't like her. But after all they had been through quit a lot and then some.

"Are you really mad about that?" his question slipped out leaving a lingering smirk behind. She, for some reason, felt the urge to tell him what she was candidly feeling. "Well, yeah" she lowered her head, almost in shame that she had admitted it. "You know we're not a thing so why-" his vocalizations got cut off by her deadly stare "No, smart one- I know that…" awkward silence "I meant the part where you said that we weren't friends." The room was silent once more, last day in the hospital; why not clear the situation now. "Really?" he asked hesitantly "You care that much about what I think of you?" he finished his short speech with his eyes locked on the window. "Not what you think of me, but how you see me. I don't see Naruto, Sakura or even You just as anybody… You guys are important to me, I need all of you in my life" she was getting frustrated by his lack of trying to comprehend, but she never lifted her gaze off of him. He sighed deeply, as though he carried a heavy burden, turning to face her "Listen Kai" he sighed once more "I don't hate you, be happy 'cause there aren't many that I don't, you're my team mate so I have to care but-" she looked at him her lips partly parted in shock, he 'had to care.' "We're not friends, we're not a couple, we're… well we're mutual acutance."

He was right, like he always was, not friends nothing just mutual agreements when ever needed- her face was blank. "A true Shinobi I understand" she had nothing more to say it was all clear as day in her mind. He was simply being what he was meant to be: a great Shinobi.

Sasuke raised his eyebrow in curiosity "Did you really get it that fast?" "I'm not stupid" Kai threw a pillow at him in attempts to get him back. Attempt failed, she laid on her said her body facing away from Sasuke. She didn't really want to see him and he probably didn't want to see her, they weren't friends or anything after all.

It was late and tomorrow morning they would be able to leave the horrid place. Sasuke looked over at the bed next to his, she laid there motionless, and the moonlight was hitting her face just right. Kai slowly opened her eyes, the moonlight making them look deeper and brighter, revealing the honey colored orbs. "T-t-today she said" she muttered loudly "What are you talking about?" questioned he, not wanting to admit he admired the way she looked at that time and place. "She, the tall lady, h-her dog" a small grin came to his face "Go back to sleep before you go completely insane" "ok" she incoherent said closing her eyes again. "What is wrong with you?" he thought out loud "You're just like Naruto if not worse" he shook his head continuing his self rant. "No not-" she came again "You're right, worse." He then realized she was contagious, he was talking to himself, which was her character trait. He could not have felt more out of character at that moment even if he wanted to.

A knock came at the door; it was early, around seven in the morning. A nurse stepped through the door "Someone will come in soon to give you two the official check so you can leave" she smiled closing the door once more. Damn, she slept a lot, most of the time they were there she slept. Even now, the morning of their release she slept. "Hope you two are feeling better" Kakashi walked through the door. If he was there that early it had to be important. "Lucky you, you're going on a mission soon" he pointed to Sasuke "you too" his finger shifted to Kai. "Well all of you I suppose" he sat on the chair relaxing from the obvious exhausting long walk. "You expect the team to be ready to go now?" he knew he would be ready as for the rest of his team, look at the person next to him.

"I guess I should tell you that you need to go see Tsunade fist, oh and I won't be able to accompany you guys on this mission I have other things to take care of." He took out his book "And you're getting old enough and strong enough to go on missions without a Jounin, so I'm naming you the leader of the team I think you are the most qualified." Wow, this was great now he had to watch what was his immature team. "Better round up your team and get going" just like that he left, of course it was Kakashi nothing less was expected of him.

"Get up" she slightly opened her eyes; everything was blurry and fuzzy so she closed them again. She felt firm hands take hold of her shoulders and begin to shake her. "Now Kai" whatever or whoever was trying to wake her up was extremely annoying. Why couldn't she just sleep its not like they had anything important to do. "Kai get up" the shaking only got harder and the words louder. Man did they want her to get up. Her hands lightly took hold of the ones shaking her "Ok, ok, I'm up" her eyes didn't open. "Seriously Kai, we have places to go" oh places, places sounded nice. "Places sounds agreeable" drowsier than anything she had no idea what she was saying. Alright words were not working force would have to do.

Good thing Kakashi had left if not Sasuke was pretty sure he would have been a goner. Taking hold of her hand he pulled her off the bed her light body hitting the floor. Without giving her a chance to register what happened he threw her clothes at her "Change" he demanded. He hoped the rest of his team was ready. Ten minutes later Kai stepped out of the bathroom still seemingly unaware of what was going on. "Sasuke we're here" Naruto's voice was beyond recognizable but it brought relief to him, at least they were ready.

"Kai!" Naruto was always happy to see Kai, despite their ups and downs, and meaningless quarrels. He grasped her in a bear hug, she allowed him his hello. "Naruto!" he continued his death grip. "How come you didn't visit me?" she asked gesturing him to let her go. Although he had been there the first two days it was beyond him to come visit her. It was those couple days that work built up on him. "I was really busy" he had released her now but he kept his arm around her shoulder. "It was very interesting being left alone with Sasuke-" almost immediately after hearing his name he snapped his head in said direction. "Out" he demanded pointing to the door.

They silently walked to the Hokage's quarters, besides a few comments from Naruto and Kai. Even though it was evident that Naruto had a crush on Sakura, and it was already assumed that Kai and Sasuke were a thing, Naruto and Kai were the epitome of a 'love-stricken' couple.

"Will you two knock it off and act lovey-dovey on your own time" he didn't like seeing their public display of affection, they weren't even together. "But I missed him so much" Kai took Naruto's hand and gripped it tightly. "I missed you more" he wrapped his arms around her waist. "Really?" Sasuke asked sarcastically rolling his eyes and looking away from them. "But Sasuke we love each other" she placed her lips over Naruto's.

If it were any other guy on the receiving end of her kiss they would have freak out. But it was Naruto and, although never and front of others, they had kissed before. Kisses of sympathy, friendship, and for the sake of telling each other that they were there for one another. They were soul mates; they really did need each other, but they also new that they were never going to be together, as a couple. They loved each other but not like that.

Sakura watched her jaw dropping to that floor, Sasuke on the other hand suppressed all needs to express alarm. His body merely tensed "We need to get going" their attempts to make him freak out had just failed. Following his lead Sakura did the same. They giggled at each other now standing side by side. "You think it did anything?" "I don't think so" Naruto shook her head in disappointment. It brought back memories of his prank pulling days.

"Sit, Tsunade will be here soon" Naruto and Kai opted out to sit next to each other on the available chairs. Sasuke sat to the left of Kai and Sakura to the right of Naruto. "How long do we have to be here?" Kai leaned on the armrest of her chair bringing her face close to his. He lifted his hand placed it on her face and pushed it back "I don't know, but you're to close for my personal taste." It was obvious he was concerned with his personal space. If any one was going to be so blunt about it, it was him.

"Good you're here" the blond stepped behind her desk, she looked weary at everyone. Sakura was looking at Sasuke and Kai out of the corner of her eyes, her hands crossed over her chest a frown on her face. Next to her Naruto had one hand on his lap and the other reaching for Kai's hand a smile on his face. Kai held Naruto's hand tightly her body turned to the left, she was glaring at Sasuke, who as usual looked like he didn't care about anything or anyone. She sighed getting their attention "What a team you guys make." The smiled, but Sasuke, assuming she meant it in a good way. "Hun, she's saying that you are immature" he sat up straight looking at them. He expected her to come back with a snappy come back or another or another of her childish tantrums. She just looked at him almost in agreement; he hated being proven wrong by her, even if he was the only one that knew.

"Sasuke did you hear that, in two days you leave, tomorrow come get the rest of the information" he hadn't been paying attention, how was that possible, what had he been doing? Kai lifted two fingers placed them on Sasuke's cheek and lightly directed his face to Tsunade. "She's over there team leader" she said with a smile. Had he been looking at her? His face was facing her but he didn't remember looking at her. "Yes" he nodded trying to shake away his thoughts. "You are dismissed" there was a lot of work on her desk that she had to tend to. "Sasuke can I talk to you?" oh no, did she want to talk to him about the staring. He nodded, what was he getting himself into? "See you around Sakura, bye Naruto" she hugged him waving to Sakura.