I finally signed a book contract. The next stages kept me so busy for a few months that I didn't have time to go to the tower. I hoped Sasuke hadn't gone to look for me. Because I had made the changes my agent suggested, my manuscript only had a few notes from the copy editor. Who knew kids' books would need so much editing? I also had to go to different meetings to settle on the page design, the book cover, and then approve the final book. My book was finally printed and ready for advance copies. I managed to get a copy for myself and invited my friends to my apartment for a small party to celebrate it! I also secured a copy for Naruto-sensei to give whichever one of his kids was within the age range. I also sent a copy to my academy teacher in Iwagakure. I thanked her for encouraging me not to give up on my art, and another copy for Iruka-sensei to appreciate my storytelling. I had one more copy that I wanted to give to Sasuke the next time I would see him. I decided to go to the tower that Saturday and hoped he would show up. I knew I would soon be getting busy, so this would be my only chance in a while.
I got lucky that day because Sasuke did show up.
"I was hoping you would come", I said to him once he appeared.
"I had a feeling you would be here today. I'm guessing you got busy?"
"Yeah. I finally got my book deal, and everything moved so fast that I didn't have any breaks. I hope you didn't miss me too much", I said and smiled.
"Naruto mentioned that. How do you feel?"
"I'm so excited. But I'm also a bit sad. I might soon have to stop teaching, especially if I have to go on book tours. It's a bittersweet kind of thing. Speaking of…I got this for you", I said and handed him the advance copy of my book. "It's an advance copy, so you can give your daughter if she's into those stories. I've been giving everyone copies I could think of. My publisher is probably tired of me asking for extra copies".
"Thank you. It looks terrific. I'll pass it along".
"How have you been? With all the superhero stuff you're out there doing", I sat down, and he followed suit.
"Busy. I've been traveling a lot lately".
"Training too, I bet. The Chunin Exams are coming up soon. I'm going to be proctoring".
"Yes. My daughter needed help with her Sharingan. So, I was training her on it".
"Sharingan. Wait! Isn't that the Uchiha Kekkai Genkai?"
"Yes. That's my name. Sasuke Uchiha"
"Holy Crap! You have the Rinnegan and Sharingan? That's Kage level jutsu. Want to be a hero character in one of my books? I'll make sure to thank you in the foreword", I joked
"I don't think I'm a hero".
"Has anyone ever told you that you're way too modest? How about if I say, 'inspired by a friend'? That way, if you ever decide to come out of the modesty shadows, you can just say your claim to fame is that you're the 'friend' mentioned on the foreword of the book".
"You would consider us friends?"
"Uh, oh! Did I move this relationship too fast? I can always go back to 'inspired by a random guy I used to talk to on a roof of a tower building'"
"No. Friend is actually great".
"Wait! This feels like a moment. Are we sealing with a handshake? A pinky shake works too. I would suggest a hug, but you seem like the don't touch me type".
"I can make an exception for a friend".
"Aww…I feel special now", I said as I crawled to where he was sitting as he got on his knees. I snaked my arms around his mid-section and rested my head on his chest. He wrapped his arm around my neck and rested his chin on top of my head. He was warm and comfortable. I decided to keep holding until he let go, and he had the same idea as I did about me.
"Kazue?"
"Hmm?"
"I'm having a tough time letting go".
"Me too. Your heart is beating fast".
"I know".
"Your situation is too complicated right now".
"I know. I'm trying to figure it out".
"Sorry for complicating it".
"You didn't. You just showed me what was missing"
"What was that?"
"Sasuke. Not Sasuke Uchiha but just Sasuke"
"That's because you've always just been Sasuke to me. Maybe one day I'll get to know who Sasuke Uchiha is because he sounds really important, but right now, Just Sasuke is enough for me".
"Thank you".
"You don't need to thank me for being you. I might not see you for a while after today".
"I know".
"Try not to miss me too much. You can't save the world if you're distracted, Mr. Superhero", I said as I started to pull away from the hug. He didn't seem to want to let go. "I kind of need to readjust my position. I still have to use my knees to walk back", I said. I sat down and stretched my legs out over one of his legs, and he sat down as well. I then laid my head back down on his chest and snaked my hands back around his waist.
"Hey, Sasuke?"
"Hmm?"
"Promise me that whatever you decide to do, you also think about what you want too? I think that Uchiha guy needs to give you a break every once in a while".
"I promise".
"And don't think about me. I'm a big girl, so I can handle my feelings. Think of what you feel is right for you".
"It's tough to not think about you" I looked up at him.
"You have to promise me that you'll try".
"I promise that too"
"You have really striking eyes. I've always wanted to tell you that. You don't have to cover them up around me if you don't want to" I combed the raven hair back with my fingers.
"Thank you. I've always wanted to tell you that you have stunning eyes".
"Thanks!" I replied, while blushing.
"Can I kiss you?"
"I really want to say yes, but I can't. I don't want to feel guilty when I remember the first time I kiss you. You can kiss my forehead or cheek".
"I understand" He tucked my loose curls behind my ears then kissed my forehead and my cheek.
"What time do you have to go back?" I asked
"I'll stay with you as long as you want me to".
"Well, for today, I can stay until right before it gets dark. I think the guard at the gate were told to look for me if I'm not back by sunset".
"How about after today?"
"That's going to be up to you" I needed to shift again since my legs were falling asleep. I placed my hands on his shoulders to steady myself, then put my legs on the outside of his, straddling his lap.
"Tell me if this is too uncomfortable. My leg was falling asleep".
"You're fine" I moved forward then rested my head on his shoulder and wrapped my arms around his neck, and he wrapped his arm around my waist.
"Sasuke, what happened with your hand? You don't have to tell me if you don't want to".
"I was a dumb, lost, angry, and arrogant teenager. This was the price I paid for it. So, you really don't know anything about me?"
"Not really. I just found out you're an Uchiha today. The only thing I was interested in about Konoha was about the first and second Hokage, obviously. But I did know what happened to your clan".
"Well, you might have heard something about me before you moved away. I was an angry kid after what happened to my clan, and I wanted revenge, so I left the village to look for more power".
"I do remember my parents mentioning a kid that deserted the village, and the shinobi and kunoichi were constantly trying to get him back. Was that you?"
"Yes. I got so caught up with the hate, revenge, and power that I didn't realize how many people I hurt. Naruto is the only one who never gave up on me. After the war, Naruto was the strongest shinobi, and I was so eager to prove how much more powerful I was than him, so I fought him. We both ended up losing our arms. Naruto got a new arm, but I chose not to. It's part of my atonement to the village. I also decided to make sure the village was never in danger again, which is why I'm always gone".
"Whoa. Sounds like you were pretty intense. Is that why you can't give yourself a break?"
"Naruto said the same thing about me, actually. He said I focus too much on one emotion and act on it then move on to the next one".
"Well, I haven't known you for that long, but it seems like you don't really allow yourself to enjoy things. Why protect the village if you can't get to enjoy what you protect? Like, have you ever just walked around the city streets and enjoyed the things around?"
"No one's ever put it like that before. Talking to you has been the most freeing thing I've done, and I guess something about you makes me want to be more open. Maybe it's because you don't really tiptoe around me or have this preconceived idea of me. There's just something about you".
"Tiptoe around you like how?"
"I guess no one had really challenged me before or talked to me that way you do except Naruto. But then Naruto is the only other person who has never really seen me as The Sasuke Uchiha. he actually challenges me on things. He gives his honest opinion to me as a person".
"That's a shitty way to live. Sorry, you had to go through all that", I told him as I hugged him tighter. "If you ever need someone to call you out on your shit, you can always count on me. I can start now if you want".
"What did I do wrong?"
"Well, I think you're still punishing yourself for something that barely registers in people's memories. I also think you're making things too hard for yourself, especially with the arm thing. How many times have you been told they can fix it?"
"Naruto reminds me all the time, actually".
"I guess that's another thing you can think about. And just try to absolve yourself of whatever guilt you're carrying. Everyone else probably forgave you ages ago. And take the time to enjoy this place that you protect. Try to get Sasuke the happiness he deserves", I said, then took his face in my hands and kissed his forehead.
"How did you get to be so wise?"
"Years of listening to people's stories. After a while, you start noticing the common themes".
"I feel lucky that you walked up here that day".
"Me too. I don't regret ever meeting you. I'll have to go soon; the sun is starting to set".
"I know. I don't want this day to end, though"
"I don't either. I'm going to miss you a lot. It's hard to not kiss you right now".
"It is for me too", he took the curls that I had over my face and stretched them out, and let them go, so they bounced back. "I always wanted to do that since the day I met you".
"Is that why you were looking at my messy hair?" he smiled at that.
"I guess I have a lot to think about".
"Yeah. I'll see you later, Sasuke", I said and smiled as I gave him one last hug and stood up.
"See you later, Kazue".