Chapter 38

A Deep Dark Hole

A/N: Sorry about the wait guys! College is driving me nuts but spring semester seems promising, I hope to finish this story before the summer. And by the by this chapter is where I will be fully taking over the story line. I will no longer be following the anime or mange for that matter. I hope you enjoy as always!

"Kakashi-sensei, is Nai-sensei going to be alright?"

Kakashi put a hand on the top of the girls pink head of hair, "she just needs time Sakura." He looked behind him at the woman lent against the tree, "she just needs a little time."

Sakura nodded solemnly and took her sensei's word. He was coping in his own way too. She noticed how much harsher training seemed. It was harsh, but short. But she couldn't help thinking about what her mother said when she found out, "Losing a child put's a hole in a parent's heart. A hole that never really heals."

Nai was actually trying not to be so depressed. Kyo wasn't dead, he was far from it. It had only been a week and he had already written. His squiggly, six year old, handwriting said how much he missed them all and a picture of stick figures labeled, Ma, Pa, and Nii-san proved the child's words.

When she really thought about it, she was just angry that Orochimaru was able to break her…again. She couldn't ignore him and she couldn't run.

The dreams of a once happy time in her life were making her worry. That time when Orochimaru was an idol to her, when he was the best in her eyes, when her young heart and mind truly and honestly believed him…loved him.

"Nai, training is over."

She looked up at Kakashi, "Sorry. Guess I wasn't much help huh?"

Kakashi, "We're ending a little early anyway. Sasuke is already heading home."

"Oh."

"Nai. I know how badly you want to hear that everything will be fine."

The kunoichi nodded and let herself be calmed by Kakashi' masked lips. She smiled and wrapped her arms around his waist as they walked, "Don't worry about it. I'm just glad you still tolerate me."

"I love you. And I knew you when you were younger so nothing you do now can turn me away."

She pouted, "Kushi!"

Sakura gave the retreating couple a sad smile. They managed to stay so…in love, despite everything. She thought about Sasuke, making a hand sign and appearing along this path home.

She spotted him immediately, hands in his pockets; head down, "Sasuke! I-!"

"No Sakura. I do not want to walk home with you."

She frowned, "Actually I just wanted to know if you wanted to talk. I'm a pretty good listener."

He smirked, it was almost creepy, and it forced an uncomfortable tingle up her spine. The first time she ever felt anything like that from Sasuke. He continued, "I don't need to talk to anyone. Especially not you."

The girl let her shoulders slump as he walked away and she heard someone running up behind her.

Naruto tapped her on the shoulder, "I'll talk with you Sakura."

She sighed, "Thanks Naruto."

Nai lent on the wall in the kitchen silently. She watched as Sasuke stared at the pictures on the fridge. He had been getting something, but the not to distant memories caught his attention.

"You miss him too huh?"

Sasuke didn't jump; instead he sat at the kitchen table and put his chin in his hands.

Nai sat next to him, "I know. It hurts and it's confusing and hard. But you were an excellent big brother."

Sasuke slumped in his chair. Right now he didn't care about any of that. He just knew that now he had proof of his weakness. Orochimaru's offer started to sound really good. It sounded good from the beginning, but so did Kakashi's urges for him to stay.

"What did Orochimaru do to get banished?"

Nai brushed her hair back and sighed, "He was an unsatisfied and misunderstood genius who decided that the only one who could make him happy was him. He started experimenting with forbidden jutsus on human beings. Then finally he 'kidnapped' his two young students." She laughed shortly, "The village still refuses to believe that we went willingly."

Sasuke nodded, "Why did you go?"

"He was my sensei. I would have followed him anywhere." She smiled, "But children don't know much about love."

"You loved him?"

"I can't honestly say. I knew the love of family…but nothing else."

Sasuke fell back into his silence and the woman stood to leave, "Everything will be fine Sasuke. As long as your happy with whatever decision you make."

His eyes went wide when she kissed his forehead and left. Was she really going to let him decide? He'd thought about his feeling a million times over, rationalized… If she was going to trust him, he had to be sure, be positive that this was the best for him. Sasuke needed to be sure that this would alleviate his pain and get him what he wanted.

Kakashi didn't question the look on Nai's face when she climbed in the bed and lay with her back to him.

After a long moment of silence she turned to him, "Kushi, how much faith do you have in Sasuke?"

The question was fair and easy enough to answer, "I have faith that he knows what he wants. Despite other people trying to decide for him."

The kunoichi nodded, "So can you promise me that no matter what happens in the morning, you'll keep that faith?"

Kakashi pulled the woman close, "Yes."

Orochimaru smirked when Kabuto entered the damp room, "My lord, he's just outside."

The snake stood and adjusted his Yukkata moving swiftly to the door. Sasuke glared at him when he stepped into the hall, "I'm only here to get stronger."

Orochimaru put a hand on the boy's shoulder, "Silly Sasuke. You are mine."

Short Chappy! :( But this was the official halfway point! YAAAAAY! :) I think I might be more excited than all of you. I never meant for this story to be so long. But see ya next time!