A Knock At the Door

Sasuke stood there, speechless as he gawked at the empty space before him.

"She seems… nice." Sakura's laugh was awkward as she tried to lighten the mood.

"Yeah! She seems great! I can't believe we're lucky enough to have her on our team! Did you see that? She disappeared so smoothly! I don't even know where she went!" Naruto babbled on and on while he and Sakura started walking towards their original destination; the infamous ramen shop.

"I'll catch up with you guys later." Sasuke mumbled, turning on his heel to head in the opposite direction, he had to get to the bottom of this.

:::

Tsukiko walked in, finding a warm bowl of rice waiting for her on the table.

"Welcome home, Tsukiko." Kakashi warmly greeted as he looked up; book folded in his lap.

She sat down, quietly picking up the bowl of rice, "Thank you." She quickly and quietly ate, and then she stood and walked her bowl into the kitchen, an abnormal stiffness seizing her joints.

Kakashi's watchful eye followed her, his gaze watching her face, 'Something's happened again.' He finally decided, shaking his head in frustration.

"Do I have something stuck to my butt?" She asked. A clone appeared in front of him, blocking his view.

He blinked in surprise, finding Tsukiko, or rather a clone, standing in front of him, a smug smile tugged at her perfect lips. "No, I just noticed that you're not in the greatest of moods." He commented, reopening his book.

Tsukiko rolled her eyes, "And that's why you're staring at my butt?" Tsukiko asked, raising a slender eyebrow.

Kakashi shook his head, eyes grazing the page, "I was looking at your face." He absently mumbled.

Tsukiko laughed, her clone disappearing in a puff of smoke, "Sure. That's what they all say…" Her warm breath caressed the nape of Kakashi's neck.

He glanced to his right, only to find himself gazing at the wall,

"But Anyways Kakashi, what were you up to today?" She asked. Tsukiko was calmly sitting on the other side of the couch, her golden eyes hiding something powerful behind their serious gleam.

"Nothing, just preparing Team 7 for the Chunin exams." He answered, holding her gaze. He tried, without luck, to search behind the wall she had secured around her emotions.

"I'm not here." She growled, suddenly standing up. Tsukiko briskly walked down the hallway, disappearing up into her room.

Kakashi frowned, hearing the quiet knock at his door. 'And just who could that be?' He wondered as he stood up, quietly walking to the door and opening it. At his doorstep stood a familiar face, two grey eyes stared back into his own.

"Where is she?" Sasuke quietly asked, looking past his sensei.

Kakashi sighed, 'You're quick, Tsukiko.' "Who are you talking about?" Kakashi decided to play dumb.

"Kakashi, I know Tsukiko is here… I-I need to speak with her." Sasuke's voice held a twinge of anxiety as he tried to calm his quickening heartbeat.

Kakashi frowned, his eye softening; he knew Sasuke wouldn't back down, but neither would Tsukiko. "Sasuke, she… doesn't want to see anyone right now."

"I don't care. I need to see her!" Sasuke's voice swelled in volume as he stomped his foot on the ground.

"Are you always so demanding?"

Sasuke turned, finding her standing behind him; an icy glare meeting his anxious eyes. "Tsukiko…" He breathed, his heartbeat spiking and racing within his quaking chest.

Tsukiko looked at Kakashi who just smiled, "I'll, leave you two alone for a little while… play nice." He chimed as he shut the door.

She heard the lock click in place as she ran to stop him. "Kakashi! Let me back in! YOU'RE GONNA GET IT LATER!" She yelled, slamming her fist against the door; it nearly splintered against the force of her fist. Tsukiko finally stopped, realizing there was no hope, she slowly turned around. "Why are you still here?" She growled, stepping around Sasuke. Tsukiko began to head towards the village and Sasuke quickly scrambled to keep pace. "If you know what's good for you, you'll leave me alone, Uchiha." She warned, disappearing into the woods.

Sasuke pursued, barely able to keep pace with her… how did she become so fast?

:::

Tsukiko bounded through the trees, easily dodging the extending branches in the moonlight, why was he still following her? She stopped, her mind scattered while she waited for him… damn her past.

Sasuke finally caught up; slightly winded, he leaned against the trunk for support, "You're hard to keep track of." He smiled, timidly looking up to her face.

Her eyes were focused on the moon, "What do you want?"

Sasuke paused; the icy edge to her voice hadn't melted any. When he stood, she realized he was actually taller than her now, the top of her head only went up to his eyes.

"Kakashi told us, that we have a new teammate." His voice was shaky, but he held his gaze to her averted eyes.

"Yeah, that's right."

"I… I just can't believe… this – this luck." He smiled, eyes shining with something she hadn't witness in a long time.

Tsukiko sneered, her eyes blazed with kindled anger that had been suppressed for too long. "Luck? Is that the word you're using right now?" She tried to keep her voice level as she continued to gaze at the moon. "I suppose it is luck, that after you left me HE let me live."

Sasuke looked away, his heart tearing open as he leapt forward, arms wrapping around her from behind. "Tsukiko… I'm so sorry… I-I… I never meant to-"

Tsukiko shoved him off, her hand made hard contact with his warm cheek; she jumped backwards, putting as much distance as she could between herself and her childhood lover. "Don't touch me." She snarled, her Sharingan activating out of instinct.

Sasuke stopped, his hand rising to absently rub his cheek. "Please, Tsukiko, don't be like-"

"Don't be like what? LIKE WHAT?" She demanded, shoving him backwards into the tree.

Sasuke was startled by her aggression, never could he have imagined such an angry person rising from the young, sweet, innocent girl he'd fallen in love with.

"Like what?" Her voice lowered, causing the pit of his stomach to drop. She glowered at him, emotions running through both of their eyes. "I have every right, to act however the hell I want! I'm not the one that left!" She snarled; the wall she'd carefully constructed slowly began to crumble; emotions began to overwhelm her senses.

Sasuke gripped her arms, slowly loosening her grip so he could get off the tree. "I'm so sorry Tsukiko… I didn't want to leave you… I-I got scared, and Itachi he used-"

"I don't want to hear your lies." Tsukiko snapped, shaking his hands off.

"No lies Tsukiko! I swear! I know- I know I hurt you because I left you… but I never, never wanted it to be like this. And, now that you're alive, I swear I'm going to make it up to you!"

Tsukiko paused, realizing there was no hint of jest in his voice. "It's too late Uchiha. There's nothing you can do." Right now, she wouldn't, she couldn't let herself get close to anyone; she'd only end up getting hurt again… and she couldn't afford that.