Day Two
She could not sleep. The room was pitch dark and silent. There was not a single sound in the hideout; it made Mei uncomfortable. All her life she fell asleep to the sounds of the night forest, now the silence was suffocating. Mei sighed and hopped off the bed. She grabbed the blanket and made her way out of the hideout. Cold wind blew through her hair sending a pleasant chill down her spine. Mei closed her eyes and inhaled the scent of freshness. A small smile crept on her face. She wrapped the blanket around herself and started walking away from the hideout when she heard quiet shuffling from the nearby tree. She glanced into the darkness trying to see who it was.
"What are you doing out here?"
"I guess I can ask you the same question." Mei responded approaching the person. Karin leaned on the tree. The moonlight reflected in her glasses, and Mei was unable to see her eyes. "I couldn't sleep." she said sitting down on the ground and wrapping the blanket around herself.
"I like looking at the moon." Karin replied blankly.
"It's beautiful today," Mei agreed. Silence fell between them. They looked up at the night sky enjoying the view. Mei was the first one to speak. "So, you don't like me," she stated with a small smile on her face. Karin tensed, but did not look away from the moon. The redhead did not want to reply. Mei chuckled at her silence.
"I do not dislike you, I just…" Karin rubbed the back of her neck. "I don't like your relationship with Sasuke,"
Mei smiled. She was suspecting it.
"We don't have a relationship. We have a deal. You know the details. Just give me six more days and I will be out of your hair."
Karin chuckled darkly. "Don't be so naïve," she wrapped her arms around herself. Mei looked at her in confusion. "We have been together for a year and we did not get even an inch closer," she said sadly.
"You two are together?" Mei gasped, feeling an unpleasant tingle in her chest. She clenched the blanket in her hands and looked down.
"We sleep together, but that's it, so I guess you can say not?"
Mei gulped, feeling uncomfortable, yet relieved. She regretted starting the conversation, but now that it was out there, she could not simply avoid. She opened her mouth to say something comforting, but Karin interrupted her.
"I've been in love with him for two years, just when I thought that things were getting good between us…" she groaned in frustration. Karin dropped on the ground beside Mei. "Sex is all there is between us, but ever since he met you, we stopped doing that too. There is an abyss between us." Mei could hear the painful bitterness in her voice. Karin was upset and hurting. Mei gently rubbed her slim back.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. There was a typhoon of feelings destroying her form the inside. "I understand how you feel," she added.
Karin shrugged Mei's hand off. Mei's hand lifelessly dropped by her side.
"Do you know Naruto?" she asked out of blue.
Karin glanced at the girl as if she was crazy. "I've seen him a few times, the rest I know from Sasuke's words." She replied. Mei rested her chin on her knees.
"Naruto was Sasuke's first kiss." She said smiling against her knees.
"WHAT?" the hair on Karin's neck stood up. "Are you serious?" She leaned closer to the dark-haired girl. Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Oh yeah, happened in the class, in front of all their classmates. All the girls had massive fits. Poor Naruto," Mei chuckled. Karin fought a smile but could not help laughing out loud.
"This must have been one hell of a sight,"
"I'm sure it was," Mei laughed quietly. They were silent for a while, until Mei spoke again, "I've been sleeping with Naruto for two years," she blurred out.
"Seriously?" Karin sounded shocked.
Mei nodded. "I've never spoken to anyone about this before. It feels so good to get it off my chest."
Karin looked at the girl wide eyed. "So, you two an item?"
"We are friends with benefits."
"So, how is he?" Karin's questioned surprised her.
"Let's just say that his stamina is much more than I can handle," Mei said playfully. Karin turned her whole body to face Mei. The girl in front of her was looking ahead into the darkness. Her hair fell on her shoulders covering most of her face.
"How do you feel about Sasuke?" Karin questioned. She regretted her question the moment she asked.
Mei's body tensed. Karin could see her fingers clenching the blanket and bare feet tapping the ground. For a moment the red-head wondered why the girl in front of her was always barefoot.
"I used to really like him when we were younger," Mei said quietly. "You know that weird puppy love you have for someone you don't know personally, whom you watch from afar but are too scared to even say hello."
Karin listened in silence.
"He was very cute when he was younger, although," Mei chuckled. "The back view of his hair looked like duck's butt." She laughed, but Karin did not join her. Mei extended her legs, allowing the cold air to caress her feet. The blanket slid down her shoulders, but she paid no attention.
"What about now?" Karin pressed.
Mei turned her head and looked at the girl. "Karin, you already know the answer to that question, don't you?" their eyes met. Karin looked away first. She pushed herself off the ground and got up.
"Let's pretend like this conversation never happened," she said and made her way back to the hideout. Mei watched her slim figure disappear behind the door. She wrapped her arms around her legs and rested her chin on her knees. Suddenly the feeling of sadness and loneliness washed over her. Mei sighed. It has been a long time since she felt that way. She hummed under her breath trying to calm down, but it was not working. Mei lay down on the cold ground and curled into a ball. She closed her eyes and started crying.
/
The sun was quickly rising. He hovered over the sleeping girl; his long shadow covered her sleeping face from the direct rays of light. He replayed in his mind the conversation he overheard at night. Mei shifted in her sleep but did not wake up. Her feet were sticking out from the blanket and he spotted a small crawly on her leg. He kneeled and flicked the insect off. His fingers snaked around her ankle. It was freezing cold. *This idiot,* he thought. *I can't believe she slept outside.* He wrapped her in the blanket and picked her up. The girl wrinkled her nose but did not wake up. She snuggled to his body. Mei buried her face in the crook of his neck. Her hot breath tickled his neck. He inhaled the scent of her hair and closed his eyes. *You already know the answer to that question, don't you.* his voice rang in his head. He pressed his lips to her temple. "What did you mean by that?"
Sasuke entered the hideout with Mei in his arms. As he made his way to her room, he noticed Karin leaning on the doorframe of the kitchen. Their eyes met and he held her gaze. He stopped in front of the redhead but did not say a word. Karin looked at Mei sleeping peacefully in his arms. Her mind cleared and all the pieces of the puzzle found their place. "I see," she whispered and turned away.
"I'm sorry." Sasuke's firm voice shook the air but Karin ignored him. Her shoulders trembled, but she did not allow herself to cry. Not in front of him. "I'm sorry, Karin," he repeated and left her alone.
/
Mei stretched and opened her eyes. Her body felt rested, but her mind was tired. She yawned and looked around surprised. "Did I sleepwalk back to the room?" she mumbled. She thought for a moment and shrugged. She could not care less. Mei hopped off the bed and started getting ready. She had a long day and an interesting treatment session ahead.
/
As she approached his room, she could hear the typical sounds of blade being sharpened. She waited for a couple of minutes and knocked.
"Come in," Sasuke's rough voice echoed from the other side.
Mei peeked into his room and quickly slid in. Sasuke stopped sharpening his katana and looked at the girl. His dark eyes seemed darker and gaze heavier. "What?" she asked rubbing the back of her neck.
"That is my question," he retorted. "What do you want?" his voice sounded colder and more distant than usual. He made her feel uncomfortable, like she was at fault. She fiddled with her dress looking around his room. Sasuke's room was dark and conservative, containing only necessities. It reminded her of the owner.
"Just wanted to say I'm ready and we can start any time," she said awkwardly.
Sasuke continued staring at her.
"What?" Mei snapped. "Why are you staring at me like that?"
Sasuke slowly put his katana aside and stood up. He walked closer to the girl and looked down at her. Mei gazed up meeting his face. Sasuke's hand reached out cupped her cheek. Her eyes widened but she remained still. Sasuke traced her lips with his thumb, pulling her bottom lips slightly forward. Mei gulped watching his face. His breathing because more ragged. The grip on her cheek tightened, forcing her to part her lips. As if on command, Sasuke slipped his thumb into her mouth. He rubbed her soft moist tongue. Heat rushed to his lower body.
"Whaf aref yew foin'?" Mei mumbled with his thumb still in his mouth. Her tongue brushed over his thumb as she spoke, making him harder. Sasuke clenched his jaw fighting the imagine of Mei on her knees in front of him, with that little pink tongue brushing over his hardness. His nostrils fluttered as he tried to maintain his excitement. Mei watched his expression hardening. Her lips closed on his thumb and she sucked it in. Uchiha's whole body tensed, while she stroked his thumb with his tongue in circular motion. Their eyes connected in an intense gaze.
"I've been sleeping with Naruto for two years," her words popped in his mind like a red flag. Sasuke bit the inside of cheek. Metallic taste filled his mouth. He sharply pulled back his hand, pushing Mei away in process. She stumbled backwards but held herself from falling. She threw a confused look at his face. He could see the hurt in her eyes, making him instantly regret his impulse.
"Mei," Sasuke stepped forward and tried to take her hand, but she slapped him away. She continued quietly looking at him. Her emerald eyes glistered with moisture. "I'm sorry,"
"Just don't," she replied and made her way out of the room.
Sasuke watch her close the door quietly and listened to the echo of her footsteps distancing from his room. He threw his head back feeling overwhelmed. "Shit." He hissed under his breath. "Fuck." He clenched his hands into fists fighting the urge to punch the wall. He knew he screwed up, but the mere thought of her together with Naruto made his blood boil. He rested his palms on the table and hang his head low. Sasuke continued taking deep breaths trying to compose himself. Their strange relationship confused him, he could not place his own feelings in order, he could not understand hers either. With a final deep breath, he pushed himself away from the table. He made his way to the room Mei occupied, wondering if he was in her shoes would he try to kill himself or continue the treatment.