When Karin got back from her trip to the park, Juugo had disappeared into their room to sleep and Sasuke was washing to dishes (a very strange sight). Suigetsu was still out with Naruto.

Entering the apartment and flopping onto the couch (she didn't bother with her shoes), she asked, "Have fun with the pink-haired tramp?"

He didn't deem that with a response. Not immediately, anyway.

Instead, he spoke several minutes later, when he had finished washing the dishes and begun the task of drying them. However, his reply wasn't one she had expected.

"I thought you had grown out of that phase."

Propping herself up on her elbows, Karin peered at him over the back of the couch. "What phase?"

"The one where you like me," he said, voice free of annoyance or cockiness. It was odd, being confronted by someone so calm and apathetic – like getting an intervention from a computer.

"I never-"

"Don't bother. It was quite obvious, despite your attempts to keep it secret."

Slumping back on the couch, she tried to hide her face, knowing by the feel of her burning cheeks that her face was bright red. Had she really been that obvious?

'You practically sat on his lap within a minute of meeting him!' a voice in her mind reminded her harshly.

Well, who could blame her? Sasuke was every girl's dream – smart, strong, mature, handsome; the whole package. It was hard to believe there was a girl in the world who didn't like him.

Which, really, meant she had good reason to be so forward with her affections. How else would she earn his love and attention?

"Well, what makes you think I'd give up so easily?" she demanded, though kept her face hidden. Determined or not, she didn't want him to see her still-red face.

"It wouldn't be giving up."

"Oh? What would it be then?" If she was standing, her hands would be on her hips.

Sasuke dried the last plate slowly and methodically before stacking it in the cupboard with the others. Pulling the plug in the sink, he watched the soapy water swirl down the drain, speaking over the noise. "I thought maybe you had realized I'm a waste of time. There are better people out there."

He didn't say it like someone who thought lowly of himself or overly-well of her. He stated it as a fact, as if telling her his birth-date or the colour of the walls.

"What about Sakura?" Karin asked, sitting upright with a scowl. "What makes her so special, huh?"

He took a while to respond again, a habit that did nothing to calm her temper.

"Sakura... won't listen to common sense. No matter what I say, she's determined to stay with me. It doesn't matter what horrible crimes I've committed, she just... holds on tighter every time I push her away," he explained in starts and stops, slow and uncertain. After a brief moment of hesitation, he added, "And, as much as I try to deny it, her feelings are... mutual."

"So, what?" Karin demanded, her jaw set in a frown and eyes glaring. "If I'm stubborn enough, you'll give up trying to push me away?"

"No."

"Well, what am I supposed to do?" she screeched. Hearing Juugo stir in the other room, she lowered her voice to a hiss. "Why does she get you so easily?"

"I'd hardly call it easy," he responded, surprisingly fast. Something new had entered his tone: self-loathing. "I shot her down cruelly, called her weak and annoying, then ran away when I found myself becoming attached. I almost killed her when Team 7 found me. Then they finally get me back to the village and I open up to our feelings" – he let out a bitter laugh, now standing at the window and scowling down at Konoha – "only to make the whole village angered and shun her for associating with a criminal." Turning his glare on Karin, he snapped, "You call that easy?"

The redhead was at a loss for words. Another envy-driven accusation died in her throat as she realized it would be a wasted effort. Her heart pounded and her cheeks burned, but for a very different reason than before, her mind chanting 'It's not fair! It's not fair! It's not fair!' while also whispering 'Do you really want to ruin what they worked so hard for? His small shred of happiness?'

Inside, the baby squirmed, landing a painful kick somewhere near her belly-button.

"I'm no good for you or anyone else," he continued, once again facing the window. His calm demeanour seemed to have returned. "You should focus your attention on someone better for you, instead."

She itched to give him a witty retort, but none came to mind (at least, none that would have any effect on him). So she kept quiet, getting off the couch and heading to her room. Flopping on her bed, shoes still on, she let the sound of Juugo's snores block out the Uchiha's words, which continued to echo in her head.


Author's Notes: Sorry if Sasuke is OOc. I did my best to keep him in character, but he just refused to co-operate.

Anywho, hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer I do not own 'Naruto' or any of its characters.