A/n: avoiding geography this time. I do not own any of the characters involved in this story yet. Enjoy!
I groaned in pain as consciousness returned to me. Immediately I wished it hadn't. My head seared terribly and I could feel the throbbing. I let out a pathetic whimper as I clutched my head, body curling into a ball. When the pain subsided enough, or perhaps I grew accustomed to the pain, I opened my eyes to see a window, its curtains drawn. On the table beside me I found a glass of water and two tablets. In relief I jerked my body towards it only to groan again as I felt the aching numbness in my stomach, arms and legs. Opting for a slower, less painful approach, I sluggishly rolled on to my stomach and propped myself on all fours before swiping at the glass and medicine, downing it all in one gulp.
When the headache seemed to recede a little, with some difficultly and cringing, I managed to position myself against the headboard, my back leaning against it for support. My eyes scanned the roomed taking in my surroundings and quickly concluding I was in a motel room, as made obvious by the 'do not disturb' sign hanging on the door. Uneasiness rushed through me and I wondered if we would be using it soon. To my relief however, Uchiha wasn't here although there was a take out box sitting on the coffee table. At the sight my stomach howled and I wondered how many days I had been out.
Carefully, as to not to anger my screaming limbs any further, I edged out of the bed and took one ungraceful step closer to salvation. A jingling of keys and a second later Uchiha entered the room with his usual emotionless face. With a nod signaling his acknowledgment of my existence, he slipped past the coffee table and helped himself to a glass of water, as if mocking me. I cursed at him and continued towards the box again like a grandma with a serious hip problem. I could feel his gaze on me, amused maybe at my pathetic state but I didn't care to turn around at his pleasure. When I finally made it to the box I moaned in annoyance. Noodles, I would need chopsticks damnit!
I turned around and spotted them, next to Uchiha of course. Following my gaze he picked a pair up and threw them towards me and on instinct I reached out to catch them. Bad move. I gritted my teeth, as my muscles groaned in protest and shot Uchiha one of my worst glares before plopping myself on the sofa and answering my stomach's pleas.
'We'll move again when your chakras comes back, or, when you can walk properly again.'
'Move where?' I asked, ignoring the jibe.
'We'll cut through fire country and move down along the river fire boarder. There's a town next to the sea where no one would think of looking. It's in fire nation too.'
I was surprised to hear that I would be living in fire country, it was the last place, besides sound, that I thought he would have me. Instead I said, 'Konoha liaises a lot with Suna now, we'll be crossing the routine path.'
'Routine makes them predictable for us now doesn't it?' but then again that was to my knowledge, three – four months old knowledge. I didn't mention this to Uchiha though, if he was as smart as everyone said he was, he would've already known. I was curious as to why he chose such a location however didn't bother to voice the question. The answer would come in time. Instead I positioned myself on the floor and began stretching my tense muscles. If we were still in sound nation, which I was pretty sure we were judging by the décor, Orochimaru's men, what's left of them, would still be hunting for our blood. I was slowing Uchiha down like excess baggage and I hated the feeling.
We left the day after, as I ignored my aching pains, determination flowing through me. I had deduced if we stayed any longer, our risk of being found increased thirty percent with each day. Although my chakra was still weak, basics such as running, I was capable of. Team Gai had always been the fastest genin group and I had honed my efficiency and stamina to ensure I wouldn't be the one to tarnish that reputation. On my shoulders I hefted a light travelling back pack containing sleeping gear, enough food and drink for a few days, and some of the clothes I had brought with me from the complex. A dark cloak was draped around my shoulders with a hood to obscure my identity if needed. In its folds, courtesy of Uchiha and much to my delight, were basic shinobi tools, kunai, shuriken, wiring, explosive tags, and a basic medical kit.
We dashed through the forest, branch after branch, fleeing invisible enemies. I relished the feeling of the wind whipping around me, one which I had often taken for granted before, and the silent mystery of the trees surrounding us. Ahead leading the way was Uchiha, never slowing but never out of reach, his coat flapping wildly around him. According to my analysis we were passing through fire country now. Wearily, I cast a glance around us in case a patrol group was near by. An encounter with Konoha nin would be greatly unfavorable.
By midday we were moving fast along the river fire boarder; having only stopped for two breaks so far, both, ashamedly, called by me. Uchiha was nonchalance, agreeing each time though any form of physical exhaustion was did not appear on his being. I cursed at him for that, for making everything look so damn easy. At this rate we would reach our destination my midnight and I wondered if that was a record. Such a distance in Konoha would've been given at least four days to complete a mission. I realized though, with one look at his face, glowing with fierce determination controlled by practiced patience, Uchiha was hungry. Hungry for revenge.
The town was bigger than I had expected. We arrived a little later than I had anticipated having had to take a detour to avoid a genin group; I wondered if I knew who the sensei was. Despite this, the town was still lively, at least in the red district where drunken brawls were taking place and women hosts and prostitutes eyed the Uchiha, even if he had his hood on, and yet somehow I got to do 'the deed'. The thought was pushed out of my mind as fast as it had come. I wondered why he had chosen such a location, the town was about half the size of Konoha, surely it would be monitored by government officials who reported to the Hokage.
Nevertheless we walked past the entertainment district with its glowing neon lights and finally, to a quiet, more secluded area, where only the rich could afford to live by the looks of it. All the two story houses were surrounded by a wall, a large wooden door guarding the entrance. Finally we stopped walking, in front of a name plate titled 'Uchiha'. Involuntarily I shivered and regretted it instantly when my 'team mate' shot me a sideward glance before pushing the door open and stepping inside. Ever since the massacre, everything associated to Uchiha was deemed mysterious, sacred, haunted. I took in a breath before following suit.
The garden was a simple one, a gravel path twisting past various small shrubs and a pond, leading up to the wooden veranda and entrance way covered in cobbwebs. I wondered who were the last people to visit such a place and silently sent a pray to the ancestors out of superstition. The interior was much the same, dark, wooden, traditional, dust only made visible by the lingering moonlight. Dumping his bag on the floor, Uchiha tore off his cloak and literally fell onto the tatami mats. It seemed he was susceptible to exhaustion after all, even if it didn't show. I knew he would be the only one getting any shut eye tonight though; the place I was suppose to call home sent another shiver down my spine.
A/n: Thanks to the people who reviewed! I instantly started another chapter once i read them :D