THANK YOU EVERYONE!

I have hit 100 followers/alerts! I feel so special and loved! I didn't realize that this little story would become such a hit. As a thank you, there is a double chapter update. There would be a third if it wasn't 3 in the morning. So please look forward to the next update coming hopefully by this weekend by the latest!

~Tora-hime-Melody

Chapter 10: The Hunt

Naruto and Akemi went around to different apartment buildings across the village. Naruto was keeping the search away from the Hyuuga compound that was on the edge of the village. Time and again the places were full, or wouldn't allow Akemi to live there for free.

They took a break for lunch, and continued their search. Twenty places in total they had visited, but still nothing. It was starting to get dark out; night was approaching. They decided to head back to Naruto's apartment and start again in the morning.

The two of them had eaten dinner and gotten ready for bed. Naruto was sitting on the futon staring down at it. "Sorry."

"For what?" Akemi looked to the blond, confused.

"That we haven't found a place yet," Naruto admitted.

"Don't worry about it Naruto," she tried to cheer him up, "We'll find a place tomorrow. I know it!"

He looked up at her "Right!"

The two of them sat like that for a minute before Akemi looked away. She slipped into bed turning her back to Naruto.

He looked confused. Why did she look away so suddenly and why was she keeping her back to him?

"Night Naruto," she had been staring at him for too long. She closed her eyes, faking to sleep.

"Good night?" Naruto replied, confused. He got into his own bed and fell asleep shortly.

In the morning they started again. They stopped at apartment after apartment but still no luck. They ate a quick lunch. They hit up more apartments after lunch. They got through thirty apartments before the day was through. Still nothing that worked for Akemi.

They went back to Naruto's apartment. Tomorrow was the third day; the last chance. There were only a handful of apartments left to look at.

"Sorry," Akemi sighed as she slipped into his bed for the third night in a row.

"For what?" Naruto was confused.

"We haven't found a place for me yet, and I'm being a burden here…"

"No your fine! We'll find a place tomorrow I just know it!"

"But there are only a few places left. The chance that they will work out is…" she wasn't able to finish. Naruto had cut her off.

"It doesn't matter! One will work out!"

"Okay, okay…" Akemi giggled at the blond. He was always trying to make things better.

An awkward silence followed their short conversation. The two sat in their respective beds looking now and again at each other. When their eyes would meet, Akemi would quickly look away.

"Are you ok Akemi?"

"Mhmm" she muttered, pulling the covers up.

"Tired?"

"Not really…" she answered truthfully, still looking away from him. What was wrong with her?

"Then why are you getting into bed?"

"I don't know…"

Another period of awkward silence followed. Naruto continued to look at her while she kept her back to him.

"Let's talk then," Akemi had gotten up the courage and sat back up, looking at Naruto. He was still looking at her.

"Okay!" He responded with his normal enthusiasm.

"Before…you had said you knew someone like me…"

Naruto looked down to his make-shift bed. Pain clearly on his face, it wasn't something he liked talking about. "One of my fellow team members, his entire clan was destroyed in a single night; by his older brother."

She stared at him in disbelief. "How…"

"I don't know," He shook his head. "Sasuke had made it is only duty to get stronger to take revenge on his clan and kill his older brother." His eyes were lost in memories.

"Had?"

"He left us, to go to Orochimaru."

"Who?"

"A evil monster. Sasuke believed that he could get stronger if he went. We tried to get him to come back home. I fought him but I passed out. He disappeared."

"But your still here." She pointed out, "If he wanted he could have killed you but he didn't. That means he still cares about you."

"Maybe."

Silence followed again as the situation got awkward. Akemi didn't know what to say after that sensitive topic. She yawned loudly suddenly.

"We should go to sleep," Naruto commented, lying down and pulling the blankets over himself.

"Alright," Akemi followed suit. "Good night Naruto."

"Night."