Harsh Reality

"Hey Kakashi," Tsukiko called over her shoulder as she exited the building.

Kakashi smiled beneath his mask, the moment Tsukiko stepped into the sunlight, she looked like an angel. She was the angel who was going to save him.

"Yes?" He asked.

"I need to stay with you today, Hokage's orders."

Kakashi's smile brightened, "Well, I was going to go and do some conditioning. Come along if you want."

Tsukiko nodded and followed after him.

He grabbed her hand and pulled her close, using the Body Flicker Jutsu to transport them into the middle of a rocky area.

"Say, Kakashi," Tsukiko smiled, sizing up the cliff she was standing next to, "I have a favor to ask."

"Yes?"

"Teach me the Chidori." Tsukiko grinned, grasping onto the rock.

Kakashi laughed and gripped a rocky ledge, "Beat me up, and it's a deal."

:::

Tsukiko raced up, it was a lot harder than she had expected. No chakara, just pure strength. She was so close, but Kakashi opened the First Gate, and beat her. "No fair." Tsukiko groaned as she pulled herself up and over. Only to find a pair of familiar sandals in front of her face. "S-Sasuke?" Tsukiko gasped, jumping up.

Sasuke grinned, he was standing before her in a new outfit, an outfit she recognized too well, "Hey, Tsukiko."

Tsukiko smirked and crossed her arms over her chest, "Is that all I get? A 'Hey, Tsukiko'?" Tsukiko hugged him with her free arm. She closed her eyes and held him close, "I missed you." She whispered. Her eyes traveled down her neck to the seal that surrounded the mark.

"I missed you too." He whispered, hugging her back.

Kakashi gave the pair distance, respectively opening his book and reading while he waited for their moment to end.

"Go on, go train." Tsukiko smiled as she turned and started to leave.

Kakashi flicked a kunai at Tsukiko, it grazed the cords that held her arm to her side, but didn't touch her flesh.

"Wait, Tsukiko!" Sasuke cried, jumping in front of her. "I've only been up for a little while and-"

"You need to train, Sasuke." Tsukiko pushed the unease – that was building in her stomach – down and walked away. "I'll see you later." Tsukiko smiled, jumping off the cliff.

:::

Sasuke watched Tsukiko disappear over the edge. His mind clicked into a new mode, his training mode, and he turned to face Kakashi. "Alright, let's train."

Kakashi folded up his book and grinned.

:::

Tsukiko glanced around the village, once again, she was stuck doing nothing. 'Maybe I'll go and bug Jiraiya.' She thought with a smirk, but decided against it. It would only land her in more trouble later.

"Hey, Tsukiko."

She glanced over her shoulder, her eyes caught sight of Kankuro walking towards her. "Hello, Kankuro, what's up?"

Kankuro smiled and stopped in front of Tsukiko. "Nothing, I'm bored, what's there to do in this village?"

Tsukiko shrugged, "I don't know, I haven't been here in years. When I lived here, I played on the jungle-gym, and raced around the park."

Kankuro laughed hard, his body shook with the laughter. "I just want this month to be over." He groaned, once his laughter died down.

"So, what are your plans for the Chunin exams?" Tsukiko calmly asked, eying the brown-haired Shinobi.

"What do you mean?" Kankuro's voice held a bite of apprehension.

"Nothing, I was just talking to Gaara and-"

"Gaara? What's he been telling you?" Kankuro snapped.

Tsukiko turned and began walking, "Relax, from what I hear… Your business is my business." She called over her shoulder.

Kankuro stared after Tsukiko for a second before it clicked. He grinned and nodded, "Right… the you must be the girl-

"Yeah." Tsukiko finished, glaring ice at him.

"Well, how much do you know?" Kankuro asked, shortening his strides to match Tsukiko's.

"Nothing." Tsukiko grumbled as her eyes traveled over the crowd.

"Hey, Tsukiko!" A cheery voice called out. Tsukiko looked to her left, Sakura came into focus. "I better get going." Tsukiko sighed. Kankuro laughed, "Play nice." He teased before disappearing down the road.

Tsukiko walked over to Sakura who was beaming at her, "Hey, Sakura, how are you?" Tsukiko asked, gazing around.

Sakura shrugged, "I'm tired, but I'm well, how about you?" She asked, beckoning Tsukiko to follow her.

Tsukiko begrudgingly followed Sakura, figuring it to be more entertaining than sitting at Kakashi's home. "I'm bored."

Sakura laughed, "Well, that's no wonder. You have no need to train. The way you defeated that guy… and Kakashi-Sensei… and I mean-"

"Sakura, would you like some lunch?" Tsukiko cut in, she didn't like discussing the way she fought with strangers.

Sakura looked at Tsukiko, puzzled by her offer. "Sure!" She piped, and she followed Tsukiko into the restaurant.

They both ordered short-ribs and tea.

Tsukiko sat there quietly and let Sakura babble on about the training month. She was lost in thoughts before she realized that Sakura was staring pensively at her.

"What? Sorry." Tsukiko amended.

"Tsukiko… I'm envious of you…" Sakura repeated. Her gaze drifted to the window and she watched the villagers pass on by as if nothing was wrong.

"Huh?" Tsukiko looked up in surprise.

"C'mon. You're an amazing Shinobi. I mean, you're so strong that you can actually beat Kakashi-Sensei. You have an amazing guy who's madly in love with you and… and you're so pretty!" Sakura blurted, her cheeks flushed pink.

Tsukiko rotated the meat on the grill thoughtfully, "Well, being powerful comes at a price."

Sakura's head tilted to the side, "What are you talking about?"

Tsukiko laughed quietly, it still amused her, how ignorant these Genin were. "You don't seem to understand, Sakura. You don't simply wake up one day and discover you're powerful. You have to work for it. The stronger you are, the more you're pulled into the real shinobi world, filled with bloodshed, and death. Sure, there's the fun and exciting missions… but even with those, you risk your life. I've watched my best friend die in front of me. Power isn't all that it's cracked up to be." Tsukiko closed her eyes and pressed her fingers into her temples, the memories that flooded her senses knocked her breathless, left her lungs desperate for air. "I would trade my life for yours any day." She quietly added, wearily smiling at Sakura.

Sakura stared in astonishment. She never would have guessed that Tsukiko would be so… deep. "Tsukiko – I'm so sorry – I didn't know." Sakura gasped.

"There's no need to apologize – you're right – you didn't know. You couldn't have known." Tsukiko waved her hand absently before serving the other Kunoichi food.

"Are you nervous for the Chunin exams?" Sakura asked, before sipping on her tea.

"No, I think it's going to be amusing." Tsukiko answered honestly. She devoured her food, the training with Kakashi had wiped her system of nourishment.

"I can't believe that you and Sasuke are going up first though…" Sakura sighed, a dreamy look passed over her readable face, "I feel bad."

Tsukiko laughed and choked on her food. She politely covered her mouth, "Why feel bad? He'll get stronger over the month… It'll definitely be an interesting match." Tsukiko cleared her though and swallowed.

Sakura smiled, "I'm sure it will be."

:::

Tsukiko insisted on paying for the food, because Sakura accompanied her.

"Thanks, Tsukiko!" Sakura called over her shoulder as she waved to Tsukiko.

Tsukiko nodded and faked a smile, "We'll have to do it again." She called out. 'This is depressing…' Tsukiko though back on lunch, Sakura was truly a nuisance.

"Why is it that I always find you up here?"

Tsukiko smiled but didn't bother to turn, "I can look at everything, nothing can attack me." Tsukiko made up the answer as he sat behind her.

He pulled her small body against him, "I've missed you."

Tsukiko leaned back into his warm embrace, "How was training?" She nuzzled her way into the soft fabric of his collar.

"Tiring." Sasuke admitted with a sheepish grin.

Tsukiko smiled knowingly, "Your stamina will grow."

"Have you heard… we're fighting each other in the first match…" Sasuke held onto Tsukiko tighter.

"Yes, I found out yesterday."

Sasuke shook his head in frustration, "Lose… or fight you… I don't know which is worse…" Sasuke groaned, he buried his head in Tsukiko's soft hair.

"Losing." Tsukiko easily answered.

Sasuke laughed and tussled Tsukiko's hair, "Perhaps for you, but I wouldn't want to hurt the girl I love." Sasuke whispered into her ear, he kissed it endearingly.

"It's just another obstacle we'll have to overcome." Tsukiko turned to look at Sasuke, she could immediately see the worry and anxiety that was stressing his already weakened mind.

"But we'll do it together…" Sasuke added.

Tsukiko's smile was small, but enough of an answer for Sasuke. An answer he didn't want to see. So he decided to ignore it, and the silence that followed. "Stay with me, Tsukiko?" Sasuke whispered, kissing Tsukiko's forehead.

Tsukiko was stunned to silence… stay… with… him?

"Please? Stay in Konoha with me? I… I want to be with you forever." Sasuke pleaded before kissing Tsukiko with pent-up passion.

Tsukiko froze, the awkward feeling began to bubble up within her as she forced herself not to push him away. 'Stay here?' She wondered as her eyes drifted shut. Her body voluntarily leaned into his, her thoughts began to eagerly wander, 'Maybe… Maybe I could stay… Maybe I just won't return…' Tsukiko shoved Sasuke away, her instincts kicked in as she crouched, tense, in front of him.

"Tsukiko?" The look he was giving her was flooring. The hurt and confusion that echoed in his eyes was enough to make her sick.

Shinobi weren't supposed to feel.

Tsukiko looked away and stood, "I'm sorry, Sasuke," Tsukiko whispered as she began to back away, "I have a mission I must attend to. Go home."

Sasuke watched as Tsukiko disappeared into the darkness, leaving him all alone. 'Why… Why can't you just love me like I love you?' He wondered as he jumped down and walked home. 'Why did I even bother to wake up?'