It had been a week since Itachi's latest attack, and since then Sasuke has been despondent. Nezhul and Sango had woken up, but were still in the hospital, confined to their beds. He had been to visit them both, and both times all had really payed attention too was all the IV's connected to Nezhul, all the bandages wrapped around Sango, all the pills they were forced to take to dull the throbbing pain. He wouldn't even go to the hopital if Kagome hadn't conviced him that it made them feel better to have friends visit. Sango was pretty happy most of the time, but something seemed to be on Nezhul's mind. She always had a strange look in her eyes, and Sasuke knew that look for he had expirenced it upon his own features many times. She wanted to grow stronger at all costs. One night, when everyone else was gone and Sango long asleep, he had a surprisingly deep discussion with her.
Flashback
"You...want power don't you?" she had asked, somewhat timidly. He nodded. "Why?" she asked. "To kill my brother." he had answered. She had smiled sadly. "Sasuke... I want power too." she said. He looked at her in surprise. "But we must be careful Sasuke. Power often corrupts the mind. We should be careful not to lose ourselves in our greedily pure intentions." she whispered so quietly he almost hadn't heard the sad statement. "So...you know?" he asked. She let tears flow gently down her face. "I really wish there was another way Sasuke, but I understand just how badly you want him dead. Just be careful, and make sure your positive that this is the right desicion, ok?" she asked. He had nodded slowly, wondering how she had figured it out.
End Flashback
As he sat pondering over the memory, asking himself how she knew, the answer dawned on him. She also wanted power. And he knew what she was going to do to get it. So he'd wait for a little while to see her decision, and to think about his own.
Nezhul got out of the hospital a few days later, she had recovered enough to sneak out and Sasuke had only found her when she crashed into him two blocks from the hospital. She had grinned up at him and he helped her up. Together they walked to a nearby lake. They sat at the bench and stared dully at the lake. "How long until...you know..." Nezhul said. He sighed. "Three days, I still need a little time. You?" he asked. She looked at him. "I'm waiting for my escort." she said. He nodded, understanding. Nezhul suddenly began to laugh. "You know, this is the first conversation we've had that's been so..." she started. He smirked and finished for her. "Serious? That's because your immature." he said. She huffed and stuck her tongue out at him. "I'm not immature! Ok...well...maybe I am..." she said, then giggled and pushed him gently. "Maybe you should be immature too, it doesn't hurt, and maybe then you won't be so stingy!" she said. He rolled his eyes. "I'm not stingy." he said. She grinned and rolled her eyes. "Sure Sasuke. Just keep teeling yourself that." she said. He suddenly got a wicked gleam in his eyes and pushed her into the lake. She swam up sputtering, but then she began laughing as she yanked him in with her. 'Why am I being so nice to her? She's just another annoying girl.' Sasuke thought as he shook off the water. 'It's probably because I don't want to think about it.' he thought, dunking her under the water. She gasped when she came back up, but by then he was already out of the water, smirking down at her. She glared, but then laughed and climbed out of the water. "I think we both needed that." she said with a sigh. He shrugged as they walked along the dirt path. "When will your escort arrive?" he asked. "Tomorrow morning." she said wistfully. She looked up at him. "Well, anyway, I better go..." she said. He nodded and they both split up. As Sasuke walked along, he heard a weird noise behind him. Turning only to be tackled down, he sighed as Nezhul giggled and hugged him tightly. "I'll see ya again someday!" she said. He rolled his eyes and shoved her off. "Your an idiot." he said. She glared. "Ya, and your a meanie!" she said, pointing accusingly at him. "Where'd you learn that insult? Kindergarten?" he asked. She turned away with her chin up, and arms crossed. "Well fine then, be that way!" she said, but after a moment she turned back around and smiled softly at him, then ran off.
The next day Nezhul woke to Kagome banging on her door. "Nezhul! You have some visitors! Their talking chineese and no one can understand anything besides your name! Hurry up!" Kagome yelled. Nezhul got up quickly and grabbed a blue backpack. Slinging it over her shoulder, she put an envelope on the table and grabbed her backpack. Steeling her face, she passed Kagome with not so much as a glance. Kagome walked into her room shocked. "She ignored me? And what was with the backpack? Something must be -Oh hello? Whats this?" she said, seeing the envelope. Opening it, she read over the contents.
Dear Kagome and Sango,
By the time your reading this, I'll hopefully already be gone. I'm sorry to say that I made my desicion to leave and get more training. I realised that I'm too weak in my present state to kill HeiLin, and no shinobi can train me properly. A few days ago I made contact with a chinese hunter who I heard was very renowned. I asked for them to accept me as a student, and they accepted. I'm leaving for China, and I probably won't return to Konohakagure. Heh, isn't that cool? I learned how to spell the damn name! I hope you realise that I love you all dearly, and it brakes me up to have to do this. Even as I write this I'm crying. Do not think I'm abandoning you guys. I'm doing this only because of the recent attack. I can't bear to have HeiLin attack Konoha when we're weak, so in doing this, I'm leading her away. I hope that one day you will forget me and live a very happy and contented life with Shikamaru (I know you like him!) and have lots and lots of babies! (you're so good with kids!)
Sango, don't think I've forgotten about you. I hope you understand how difficult this desicion was to make. Your an excellent warrior and friend, and I'm positive you'll have a wonderful life (preferably with Kakashi) I've always held you in the utmost respect (you too Kagome) and I had always admired your serious and determined spirit. I can't hold a serious discussion for very long (as you can see in this letter) and admire the fact that your serious, but loving and gentle at the same time. I truly wish that circumstances were different, but alas, we must take what fate throws at us.
Proverbial Hugs and Kisses,
Nezhul Qwan
Bounty Hunter
PS: Aren't you guys impressed I used so many big words? I wrote this letter all by my self! (Ha ha, not. I had to use the dictionary more times than I can count!)
As Kagome finished the letter, she rushed out of the door, fearing that her friend was already gone. Reaching the spot where she had last seen the chinamen, she saw they were no longer there, and Nezhul had gone with them. She collapsed to her knees, letter still clutched in her hands, she began to cry. As if the angels were crying with her, it began to rain down, gently at first, but it grew more as it went along. Shikamaru found her an hour later and spent the whole night holding her tightly to him, comforting her as best he could. He couldn't explain why seeing Kagome crying made him sad, but all he knew is that it did, and he didn't like it. "Shh...Kagome, It's alright..." he said, kissing her foreead gently and rubbing gentle circles on her back. Kagome blushed when he kissed her, and snuggled deeper into his embrace, falling asleep in his arms.
When Sango got news of the letter she had immediatly went to a nearby forrest where she found Kakashi. He had been shocked to see her so upset. He approached her and caught her just before she collapsed onto her knees. Holding her to him to protect her from the rain, they stayed like that for what seemed like forever, but forever seemed to short to describe how long they felt safe and content, warm and loved.
Sasuke also left that night. Sakura had tried to stop him, but with no success. He had made up his mind to go to Orochimaru and recieve training, and he wouldn't let anyone stop him. He left Sakura on a park bench, tear stains still streaking her sleeping face. She had woken up the next day to Naruto's worried face, and immediatly clutched onto him, sobbing her eyes out into his shirt as he akwardly held the girl he had loved for so long.
END
THIS IS THE END OF ENCAGED IN ICE SEASON 1!!!
Now, hope you enjoyed the last chapter, there was a lot to take in, I know.
Hope you guys liked the first season, and I hope you review about it. The next season will be titled something like "Encaged in Fire" because this is the part where it really heats up. It'll have more lovey dovey parts, more action, and more adventures for the cast. Oh, and one more thing, the next season is taking place THREE YEARS FROM NOW! In other words, Kagome and all the 15 year olds will be 18, Sango will be 21, Kakashi will be 25 (Can we just make him 25? Otherwise he'd be too damn old!) Anyway, I added as much romance as I could in this last chapter because I figured I had depraved my readers to really any romance. Oh, and here is a preivew for the next story,
Encaged in Fire:
Kagome was currently on a double date with Sango, who was enjoying a plate of sushi. Kagome herself had ordered Soba and chicken, and Shikamaru oredered riceballs while Kakashi got dumplings. They were enjoying a pleasent coversation, with Kagome casually arguing with Shikamaru, and Sango accusing Kakashi of being a pervert.
"Shikamaru, you lazy bum, I told you not to mess with the dog, but no! So I hate to say it, but I told ya so!" Kagome said playfully. Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "I don't recall you saying not to mess with the dog. Infact, I remember you saying that I should play with it, and second of all, you loved to say I told ya so, and you know it." he said. Kagome shook her head. "I never said you should pull the dogs tail, or it's mouth. Playing with a dog consits of fetch and tag! So it's not my fault Akamaru bit you!" she said. "I never said it was your fault. You just assumed I would think that and therefore began this entirely pointless and troublesome conversation." he said. "Pointless? Troublesome? You think spending time with me is troublesome?!" she asked. His eyes widened and he turned urgently. "N-No!" he said, but the glared when Kagome burst into giggles. "Kagome, you really need to stop doing that." he said, shaking his head and causing her to only laugh harder.