I am terribly sorry for the wait. Writers block and work have kept me from completing another chapter. Again I apologize for the wait and I hope I have not lost any readers.

Sasuke awoke the morning after Kou's birthday party in a fog, but he could still remember all that had happened. He could feel the kiss on his lips and the warmth of her hands where they had touched his face. He shook his head and brought himself back to the real world. He would have to forget about the kiss and about his feelings; there was a lot of work to do before the war.

Kou also woke up feeling the kiss on her lips and remembered the smell of his hair. She touched her feet to the ground and smacked herself, "you idiot." She could not believe she had let herself become attached to the Uchiha that easily. The monks had always warned her about attachments, but then again she was not a monk. She may have learned a lot of their philosophies, but she had never taken their vows. After dressing herself Kou walked out into the hallway. Sasuke had also emerged from his room at the same time, Kou stared at the floor and Sasuke couldn't help but stare at her, sharingan activated.

"Thought you didn't want to use it that much?" asked Kou with a hint of sarcasm.

"Hn." Was his only reply although deep inside he was glad she didn't mention the kiss. He deactivated his kekkei genkai and they both walked towards the kitchen to make breakfast.

Their conversation was the same as it always had been. Neither was willing to talk about what had happened the night before, and neither was willing to confess they had enjoyed their time together. They simply talked about their plans for training that day.

"Do you want me to teach you to throw kunai today?" asked the Uchiha. He had noticed she never carried a tool pack or any weapons for that matter.

"I'm not a weapons user. If anything I just make my own kunai with earth, but thanks." Her reply had been short and to the point which was very unusual for her.

After an awkward silence Sasuke couldn't take it anymore, "If you're upset about last night…"

He didn't even get to finish, "You had some sake and I don't think I was in a very good frame of mind for some reason. Its fine… like I said there's a war coming and we're both stressed."

"It obviously is bothering you. You women just love to pretend you can hide what you're feeling," said Sasuke rising from his chair. He was getting impatient, a rare occurrence.

Kou also rose from her chair, "And you men always think with your dicks! Especially when there's a little sake involved!"

Sasuke grunted in annoyance, "Let's just forget it, like anything would have come of it anyway."

As Sasuke left to go to the garden and meditate he heard Kou punch the table. She walked out the front door and headed for the waterfall, or at least that's where he guessed she would go.

Sasuke sat beneath a bodhi tree in the backyard. She's so frustrating! Why do I feel this way around her… why do I care what she thinks or what she does?

"Women are incredibly fascinating. They tempt us in ways we cannot explain, yet they have no idea the power they hold over our heads," said master Daichi as he walked calmly off the porch toward Sasuke.

Sasuke heard him coming forward and huffed. He kept his eyes closed and tried to ignore the old man.

Daichi sat down in front of the Uchiha and continued, "A monks life is simple because we choose to not let ourselves be tempted, but I find myself wondering if my life maybe better if I had someone to share it with."

"I don't want to share anything with her. She's helped me grow stronger that's it," said Sasuke annoyed.

"I would like to think you're not that blind Sasuke. I think you know that she has helped you grow in power physically by teaching you to love and to care. I'd also like to think she has gained your trust," replied the monk as he sat in a meditating position.

Sasuke was truly getting irritated by the old man, "I thought you monks looked down upon attachment."

"You and Kou are not monks."

"Hn."

Daichi smiled, "You have realized by now the changes your body and mind have gone through these past couple months are due to the changes in your heart. You are not the cold, hate filled boy that first came to this village. I see you as a grown man who is ready to prove his loyalty and his love. You just don't know how to go about doing so."

Sasuke finally opened his eyes. How was it this monk knew so much? Did he know his true plans? "So what?"

"What I'm trying to say is a woman like my student is second to none and it would be wise of you to keep her as an ally… and possibly more."

Daichi rose and prepared to leave. He had plans to help Kou finish up some details about the sealing technique, "Kou cannot judge by appearances therefore she is the most unbiased person when it comes to judging a person's character. She has obviously seen something in you, something no one else can… except maybe Naruto. You don't have a lot of true friends in this world right now Sasuke Uchiha. It may be wise to keep the ones that you do."

He walked away letting his advice sink in. Sasuke stared in the direction of the old monk and couldn't hide the fact he was trying to interpret all that had been said. The old man was right in that Naruto and Kou had never given up on him, but it was also true that he had plans of his own. He sighed; all will reveal itself in time. If they truly are my friends then we will survive this war.

Kou stood beneath the waterfall letting herself get pounded by the force of the falling water. She concentrated her energy into remaining upright. If she lost focus she would surely be pushed beneath the surface and possibly drown. The thought of that was just fine with her after what had happened that morning.

I don't care about him like that… he's such a jerk… and arrogant cocky jerk… who saved my life… and who can be kind… and is apparently a gentleman…she sighed and continued to focus.

"Love is an amazing feeling that can fuel the most powerful of jutsu, yet it can be the death of anyone who is fool enough to let it consume them completely," came a familiar voice from the forest. Daichi walked toward his pupil as she continued to battle the water pounding her body.

"I'm not in love with him Master Daichi. He's just a training partner," replied Kou with some strain as the water seemed to push harder.

"Love is also an incredible force that makes even the most powerful and brave men draw back in fear," replied the old monk as he continued to walk. He folded his arms in front and hid his hands in his robes, "I have told you lying to yourself blocks the flow of your energy and weakens you physically."

With that Kou sank beneath the water. As the force of the waterfall continued to push her deeper and deeper she calmed herself long enough to summon earth from the bottom of the pool and propelled herself to the surface, away from the waterfall. She emerged gasping for air.

Daichi walked to the shore line and helped her to her feet, "I surprise even myself sometimes with how predictable life really is." He chuckled at his own joke as Kou glared towards him.

"It's not like it could work out anyway. He's too much of a bastard to have feelings… and besides there are more important things to worry about," said Kou after recovering.

Daichi rose from helping his student, "Sometimes I wish we would have started your training later. You have never gotten the chance to be a normal teenager, but that is life we had no choice did we?"

"No we didn't… and I'll be fine. I'll get over it," Kou stomped off towards her clothes. She had been wearing her bathing suit while under the waterfall.

Daichi shook his head, "You both are two of the most stubborn people

It wasn't until that evening that all three returned to the house. Daichi claimed he had an important meeting to attend and left the two shinobi alone. They were currently cleaning the kitchen when Sasuke accidently bumped into Kou.

"Jeez I thought you had at least learned something these past couple months spoiled," she said with some bitterness. The kunoichi was not in the best of moods.

"Time of the month much?" replied Sasuke equally as bitter.

Kou screamed, "THAT'S IT!" She proceeded to grab Sasuke who was caught off guard. She held him by his collar while the Uchiha activated his sharingan prepared to defend himself. He was equally as surprised when he saw Kou crying.

She glared through her tears, "You have no idea! NONE! You have no idea what I went through when I heard you left. You have never cared about anything but revenge; you have never cared about anybody but yourself."

Sasuke was stunned she had never spoken about the day he left the hidden leaf village. Kou took a breath through her ranting and sobbing.

"You selfish bastard you never realized where your true strength came. I was always there for you. You would whine to me 'Oh Kou please I'm so mad Naruto is beating me. Kou please tell me what to do I'm so confused,'" she mocked. Sasuke began to clench his fists.

"I thought you were my friend… I thought… I thought you…." She couldn't finish. She dropped Sasuke and ran from the room out into the night.

Sasuke landed on his feet and stared in the direction he heard her footsteps. He walked to his room and sat in meditation. She had hit a nerve and he could barely keep himself from lighting the entire house on fire. In his state of mind he never heard footsteps coming towards his window.

"Seems you have been stalling on your mission my student," said Madara Uchiha in his calm yet cold voice.

"I'm not stalling. I'm waiting for the right moment," replied Sasuke through clenched teeth. This was the last thing he needed.

Madara walked through the wall and stood in front of the younger Uchiha. "I disagree your little antics over these past couple of months have indicated to me that you are beginning to doubt our original plan."

Sasuke grunted in reply he had nothing to say to this mad man.

Madara continued, "of course you know I could take matters into my own hands and deal with the Spirit Guardian myself." He paused and Sasuke opened his eyes and looked at the floor.

"That is if you think you cannot handle this simple task I gave to you," continued Madara irritated.

Sasuke looked up in Madara's direction, "I will bring Kou to the hide out in two months. I still have more I want to learn about her before…"

"You are delaying this mission out of fear for her life! I knew you had underlying feelings for the girl, but I thought you knew well enough to squash them!"

Sasuke had never heard Madara yell or lose his cool, but there was something else in his voice…fear. It was only the slightest hint, but he could feel it. Madara was terrified of Sasuke joining Kou, Naruto and the rest of the shinobi alliance.

Sasuke kept his head and looked toward Madara, "There is no need to question my loyalty to you. I will bring Kou to you before the war begins, but I cannot do it by force. She has grown in strength, and a fight could leave her dead before we have a chance to use her."

Madara seemed satisfied with the answer, "I see. You want to earn her trust to make things easier." He smiled, "you are an Uchiha in every way to your core."

Sasuke smirked at this and stood, "Give me another two months to train with her and fully gain her trust. That will give me enough time to bring her to the hide out and it will be before the war begins."

"Fair enough," nodded Madara. "I sense she is returning to the house I will take my leave. Remember Sasuke, two months. Bring me the girl and Itachi's eyes are yours."

With that Madara disappeared and Sasuke sighed in relief. Everything was still going in his favor, how long that would last he had no idea. A knock came at his door.

"What?" he answered harshly. He knew it was Kou.

She walked in and sat down on his bed. She motioned for him to sit as well. He hesitated before sitting beside her.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said those things," she said solemnly.

"How do those words taste?" smirked the Uchiha.

"Like strong wasabi," replied back the kunoichi with a smile. She touched her hand to his cheek. Sasuke found himself unable to move, he felt how warm her hand was. He couldn't see her but he could feel her smile, and remembered what it looked like.

He placed his hand over hers, "I did enjoy the kiss last night it wasn't the sake or the stress."

Kou let her hand fall and both shinobi remained quiet. They sat in deep thought until Kou finally spoke, "We'd never be able to be together it would be too risky and too much of a distraction. This war…"

Sasuke didn't let her finish he placed his finger on her lips to shush her. He followed his finger with his lips and kissed her passionately. This kiss was different from the first one; it had more intensity and desire. They released for air and Kou felt dizzy. Sasuke embraced her and they kissed again.

The two shinobi felt the world around them disappear. All they could feel was each other's lips. The kiss came to an end when Kou felt Daichi's footsteps coming towards the house. She shot up from the bed and began to walk away. Sasuke grabbed her before she could leave, "What you said earlier about this being a risk and a distraction… don't worry about it."

She turned toward him, "We'll figure out what to do as things progress I guess, but when the war begins…"

"We'll do what we need to do. We're both shinobi and we both have duties," interrupted the Uchiha. They could both sense Daichi getting closer.

"Does this mean you're joining the alliance?" asked a surprised Kou.

"It means I'm on your side… I don't think I could go back to my village, but I will do what I can to help you," replied Sasuke in a whisper. The front door made a click as Daichi turned the knob. Kou kissed Sasuke one more time before making a swift and silent exit into her room.

Daichi could be heard entering the house and walking towards his room. Sasuke thought the old man must have assumed they were asleep.

He could hear Kou's footsteps in her room as she climbed into bed. Sasuke followed her lead and lay awake. He stared up towards the ceiling, Two months is more than enough time. I have no doubt about my plans. She trusts me I can feel it. Sasuke closed his eyes and fell asleep immediately the only question he had on his mind was if he was doing the right thing for himself and for Itachi.