Hey guys, I'm back with another chapter! Again, which I know I say a lot, but sorry for the long delay but since I've been sick today I've finally had some time to get this chapter done yay! xD

Thanks again for the support so far, it's been great to read the reviews that I've gotten the past while. They really make my day. :3

And as always I do not own anyone or thing from the Naruto Universe, just my OC's Himiko and Mafuyu.

Annnnnnnnnd, ENJOY :)

Chapter 20 – We need to talk

-Later on that day-

Naruto and Sasuke sat on a park bench on the outskirts of the town. The wind whipped around them as Sasuke inhaled from the second cigarette of their trip to the remote park.

"Dude you really need to quit with the smoking..."

Naruto looked over at his dark haired friend, noticing the impatient tapping of his foot on the on the concrete pathway.

"I'm stressed okay?"

Naruto let out a small sigh as Sasuke momentarily looked down at his phone to check for any messages. He had texted Himiko just before to let her know what was going on, but they didn't want to attract any unwanted attention from anyone else so they otherwise kept the 'meeting' a secret.

The phone in his hand vibrated unexpectedly, and he looked down to see who it was.

"I'm on my way babe; I knew you couldn't resist me for too long xxxx"

The black haired teen rolled his eyes in disgust as he read over the message that happened to be from an unknown number that wasn't saved in his contacts. He wasn't stupid though, he knew exactly who it was...

"She'll be here soon; I'll meet her at the entrance. Wait here..."

He immediately got up from the bench and wondered off towards the tall, rusted gates at the entrance of the otherwise abandoned parkland. Naruto just shrugged his shoulders as he watched his best friend walk in the opposite direction, throwing the remains of his cigarette into the distance as he left the park grounds.

After a few minutes of waiting, leaned against the fencing, Sasuke could hear the distant clicking of shoes on the pavement. No one else was around so it didn't take him long to notice Karin's approach. She strode toward him with confidence, a smug grin plastered on her face as her eyes never left him.

Sasuke had forgotten how creepy it was when she looked at him like that, it was unnerving to say the least.

Quickly shaking off how creeped out he was, he examined her face as she neared, noticing that she was wearing a lot more makeup than her remembered. He wasn't one to judge over a girl's use of makeup or anything, but she looked completely different than she did the last time he would have considered talking to her. Upon greater inspection he could notice the hollow in her cheeks below layers of makeup that he figured was there to cover up the drastic changes in her features. Now that he thought about it her face revealed a lot more than he expected it too. He could see that she had gotten dark circles around her eyes like she hadn't slept in days. Not to mention the bandage that she kept on her nose to cover the bruising that Himiko had caused. The girl looked like a mess...

Karin stopped in front of Sasuke and looked up into his eyes, breaking him from his thoughts.

"I knew you'd come around eventually...I missed you Sasuke."

She put on a seductive voice and smiled at him sweetly.

Quite frankly it made him feel sick to think that after all that she'd done, she would expect that him to come back to her.

"We need to talk Karin."

He said plainly, trying his best not to show any emotion as he was inwardly ready to explode.

"What about babe?"

She tried to play stupid, but Sasuke was having none of it.

"Look, maybe on the side of a road isn't the best place to talk...Let's go on walk."

He tried his best to sound polite but he still came off aggravated, but Karin didn't seem to mind, she was probably used to it.

"Oh how romantic, let's go"

She led the way into the main park area in excitement. Sasuke followed behind her as he waited for them to near the bench where Naruto was waiting.

"Karin we need to talk about what happened with you and Himiko."

She stopped dead in her tracks and turned to face Sasuke again.

"Why do we have to talk about that for, you know the story. She attacked me, I mean look what her man hands did to my nose!"

She fussed, pointing up at the bandage on her face. Sasuke just resumed walking and after a few seconds Karin followed.

"That's not the real story Karin..."

He started to get impatient, her innocent act was pointless. But she kept on the façade.

"You didn't need to bring her into this..."

"Well she kind of forced her way into it when she attacked me!"

She too grew impatient, her voice rising in pitch as she tried to put across her side.

"Everyone knows she didn't start it Karin, now tell the truth."

Naruto spoke firmly, making his presence known Karin. Her eyes went wide in surprise and she turned to look at her cousin.

"Naruto, what are you doing here? Why are you saying that, of all people I thought you would understand?"

Naruto sighed and opened his mouth to speak but Sasuke cut him off.

"Karin, Himiko is my girlfriend, I'm sorry but you need to move on. You doing all this shit is just making things worse for yourself and everyone around you. What you're doing is poisonous and no amount of make up or fake confidence can cover up what all this has done to you."

Karin stared off into the distance for a few seconds, taken aback. Even Naruto was a little surprised at what he had said, but she quickly shook it off.

"But I need you; we've been through so much and were strong enough to make it through anything."

The change in Karin's features finally revealed her true feelings. Both teens could see it in her eyes, the level of desperation that she had come to. The maddened look that she wore said it all, and within an instant the atmosphere had plummeted into a sullen mood.

"Karin...I hate to say it but you're just not good for each other. Can't you see what all this has done to you; you were never like this before."

"That has nothing to do with anything; I don't know what you're trying to do but spouting stuff like 'Oh you've changed' isn't going to work."

The red haired teen began to tear up despite her venomous words.

"I warned you about this Karin, I knew this was going to happen sooner or later but you didn't listen."

"You just don't understand Naruto, just because you've never been loved before doesn't mean we all have to be alone."

Naruto furrowed his brows deeply, she had hit a nerve with him and she knew it. She always knew what buttons to push. Even Sasuke scowled at her cruel remark.

"Don't you dare..."

Naruto fought back the urge to walk away from the situation. He was here to help Sasuke but he didn't expect Karin to strike so low. Sasuke noticed his friend began to shake with rage and decided it was best to put this to a quick end.

"I don't want anything to do with you Karin, you hear me? Don't come near me or Himiko again. If you wanna pick a fight with anyone, then pick one with me because this is between us. We're done. "

Sasuke turned to walk away as Naruto shook his head.

"You've put the nail in the coffin this time Karin, I want nothing more to do with you."

Naruto spoke barley above a whisper as he too turned to leave.

"That okay, do you think I care? I don't need you; I don't need either of you!"

She shrieked as they walked away without looking back. Karin fell to her knees in a fit of tears and her sobs faded in the distance as Naruto and Sasuke exited the park area.

I don't need them; I'm the most popular girl in the school. Fuck Sasuke, I'll find someone even better than him. He'll be sorry aright, just wait and see...

The red head finally collected herself and got up off the ground to sit on the bench that was previously occupied by Naruto. She whipped away the tears that had all but ruined her makeup, but that was the least of her worries. She wouldn't be spoken to like that; she wouldn't stand to be treated like shit again. So now all that was left to do was make him pay, make them all pay...

She took her phone out from her coat pocket; the glare of the small screen hurt her eyes in the now dim remains of sunlight. After pressing a few buttons on her keypad, she pressed the phone to her ear. A few moments later the familiar ring of the caller's voice brought a smug grin to her face.

"Hello? It's Karin; I need to talk to you about something."

Meanwhile, back at Jiriya's bungalow, Himiko had invited Temari and Sakura round for a girly night in. They sat in the living room watching TV with an array of blankets covering the floor, which of course was Temari's idea.

"Himiko I have to say, your brother is fine as hell."

Temari gushed as she returned to the living room after getting another bowl of snacks from the Kitchen.

"Temari I hope you didn't hit on him while you were out there or I'll have to tell Shikamaru."

Sakura giggled while Himiko threw a blanket at her blonde haired friend, using her undamaged arm.

"That's my brother you weirdo. That's like me hitting on Gaara, you would have me executed."

"True, but Gaaras not a buff solider."

Himiko rolled her eyes sarcastically as she changed the channel on the TV. Temari had managed to dodge the blanket and took it as her own to sit on.

"Annnnyway, I hear someone's been asked on a date."

Himiko spoke in sing song as she looked over at Sakura who instantly went red at the mention. Temari joined in with a timely 'OoOoOoOh' for extra measure.

"It's nothing too fancy, just the movies."

She shrugged her shoulders in an attempt to play it cool, but of course the others could see right through her.

"Movies and chill is it?"

Temari chuckled to herself at the "witty" play on words that she had come off with. Himiko just shook her head in mock disgrace.

"Just because you're into that kind of dirty business doesn't mean we all are Temari!"

Sakura protested, but couldn't help laughing along too.

"Diedera never asks anyone out, come on he even risked his job for you."

"Oh don't even remind me of that, I'm still embarrassed."

Sakura rolled her eyes and took a sip of her juice.

"Well at least fill us in on the details of how this date plan went down."

Temari and Himiko huddled in closer to hear the story.

"Okay..."

Sakura sighed before sitting up to tell them. She was trying to make it look like she was complaining but Himiko and Temari knew she was excited.

"So he called me up the day after the party and well, we talked for a bit. We've texted back and forth a bit and he's really not the person that people make him out to be. I know some of those guys he hangs around with are kinda dangerous, but he's so sweet."

The tinge on Sakura's face just about matched her hair at this point, but it was great to see her so happy about meeting a guy. The last guy she dated was an ass-hole to say the least...

"So yea, he texted me this morning saying there's this film coming out...Deadpool I think it was?"

"Oh yea I've heard all about that one, I swear to God I had to listen to Naruto and Sasuke gush over it the other day...Honestly felt like I was third wheeling them for once."

The three teens erupted into laughter at Himiko's last comment, not the least bit surprised at how those two act.

"I'm hoping it's good though, for a superhero movie I mean."

"Oh no, don't let anyone hear you say that, 'It's not just some superhero movie, you couldn't be more wrong', I can already hear the lectures..."

Temari added, each word dripping with sarcasm.

"Where are those two by the way, there always floating around in the background somewhere?"

Sakura mused, looking around as she had just noticed the absence of the two teens that are practically part of the furniture at this point.

"Oh there just out somewhere, they probably won't be back for a while..."

Himiko shifted slightly in her position, trying not to sound suspicious but she could tell that she had already given herself away by the look on the others' faces.

"Is something wrong Himiko?"

Temari locked eyes with her best friend, and in that moment she knew something was up. As much as she tried, Himiko was never a good liar. She knew that it was pointless to try to make something up, and she could trust Temari and Sakura.

"Okay, I'll tell you but please keep this top secret... They went to go talk to Karin. They freaked out after what happened but I told them not to do anything stupid. They said they would try to talk things out and hopefully resolve everything."

Temari and Sakura fell silent for a few moments as they listened to what Himiko had to say. Before long, Sakura reached out to put an arm around Himiko.

"Do you think it'll work?"

"Honestly, I don't know..."

Hope you enjoyed this chapter, It was kinda heavy but I think it was needed xD. Finally onto chapter 20, it feels like so log ago I started writing this, and I still love writing it despite the fact it takes me a while to upload. I'm also thinking of starting a few new projects once this one is done (which it won't be for a while, but I'd love to hear any suggestions anyone has for any more Naruto fanfics, whether it be like this or something completely different.)

Stay tuned for more and thank you for reading! :3 x