DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO

Italics mean what the person is thinking.

AN: This story has OOC characters in it. If you don't like, don't read. Pairings are SasukeOC. My first fic, so be nice! COMPLETED! Remember, nobody likes a flamer!

Arrival of Uchiha Kamasurao…

Sudden Appearance

Uchiha Sasuke was 16, and still with the Sound. He was on his way to the Hidden Mist Village for a mission. Sasuke walked along a dirt road bordered with forests on either side. Suddenly, Naruto and Sakura stepped out from the forest to his right. Sasuke growled bad-temperedly. He did not want a detour from his mission by idiots. Then he noticed her. Her hair was black, streaked with red-orange. She had unnatural red-orange eyes. She wore the garb of the Hidden Leaf Village. Her head protector kept her long bangs from getting into her face. Something within Sasuke's memory stirred. Then he remembered her. Sasuke trembled as memories of her flooded back. Her name escaped his lips, "Kamasurao? Surao?"

The girl eyed him. "Sasuke, right? You've changed."

Sasuke was dumbstruck with disbelief. He thought about the times they had together while the Uchiha clan was still alive. He thought of the love they had for each other. Has it all changed? Naruto stated, "Sasuke, you are to come with us back to Konoha."
Sasuke backed up shaking his head. "No. I need more power in order to kill Itachi."

Surao stepped forward. She is so different! Sasuke thought, She used to be so timid, polite, and quiet. Now her attitude practically shouts out defiance. Surao snapped, "Sasuke, I don't have time for this. Don't make us take you back by force."

Sasuke, surprised at Surao's aggressive behavior, shot back, "You'll have to drag me back to Konoha!"
Surao smiled with malice. "I'll do that."

With surprising speed, she launched herself at Sasuke, with paralyzing needles in her hand. Sasuke jumped to the side almost too late. The needles were impaled in his left arm. He felt his arm go numb. As Sasuke wheeled away from Surao's other needles, he thought he glimpsed a trace of sadness in her eyes. Sasuke thought desperately, I don't want to fight her! I won't fight her! Surao kept up her relentless attack. Sasuke knew he could not keep this up much longer. Suddenly, Naruto jumped behind Sasuke and threw some paralyzing needles at him. They found their target, and Sasuke stood, unable to move. He shouted, "Baka! Fight fair!"
Surao's eyes were a bit damp. She brushed her hand across her eyes roughly. She whispered, "I'm so sorry, Sasuke."

Surao shook off her weakness. She thought sternly, A ninja doesn't need emotions in the way. Surao strode over to Sasuke. She grinned, asking, "What are you going to do now, eh, Sasuke-chan?"
Sakura clapped her hands together joyfully. "That was fast! Let's go back to Konoha now!"

Sasuke sighed. His mind had been so preoccupied, he had actually lost to the bunch of weaklings. For 3 days they trekked to Konoha. On the last night, Sasuke waited until everyone was asleep before rousing Surao gently. He called her name softly, "Surao! Surao, wake up!"

Surao immediately sat up. She spotted Sasuke calling her and crawled over. She asked, annoyed, "What?"
Sasuke asked, "Can I ask you some questions? About how you survived my brother, and what happened?"

Surao replied wryly, "I guess. Well…I don't know how I survived your brother. Neither do I want to figure out. I left Uchiha a week after the massacre. I was trying to follow you, knowing that you were the only other Uchiha survivor. And then…then something happened during my travels. I became stronger. I was as strong as you. I heard of the Hidden Leaf Village, and I sought it out so I could hone my skills there. That's when I heard of you. I asked about you, got information, and proved myself to be as good as you. They gave me multiple exams including missions and written reports. This is the last exam. To bring you back is to be accepted as a skilled ninja."

Sasuke listened quietly. He spoke quietly, "Undo the paralysis. I swear, I won't hurt any of you, and I won't try to escape."

Surao looked at him doubtfully. She removed the paralysis, but her hand was inside her belt pouch, wary of anything Sasuke might attempt. Sasuke was faster than Surao thought. In a moment, Surao was in a tight embrace. Her body was crushed against Sasuke's body. Sasuke laid his cheek on her silky hair. He whispered, "Surao, I missed you so badly all those years. I'm so glad that you came back, that you're alive…"

Surao returned his embrace. She turned her face up, and Sasuke kissed her warmly. Surao gasped. Her first instinct was to fight him off, which she could do easily. But a part of her wanted Sasuke to hold her and to love her. She gave in to her second instinct. After a minute, Surao gently disengaged their mouths. She whispered, "Remember the times in Uchiha?"

Sasuke nodded sleepily. Surao laid her head on his shoulder and was soon fast asleep. Sasuke carried her and laid her where she was sleeping before he had roused her. He returned to where he was and fell asleep within minutes. Surao was wakened rudely in the morning by a yell. She thought groggily, annoyed that she was awakened so abruptly, It's the dumb Naruto…I'm gonna kill him…Surao pushed herself up. Then she saw why Naruto was screaming. Surao yelled, "Come ON, Naruto! You're not that stupid, right? So what that Sasuke isn't paralyzed anymore? He didn't kill us, and he didn't run away!"
Naruto yelled, "He could have! Since when was he not paralyzed? You had a part in it, right, Surao?"

Surao rubbed her temples. She bellowed, "Yes I did! Now, let's get to Konoha already!"

Sakura muttered, "I bet they can hear us in the Hidden Leaf Village. Let's go!"

Soon the four teens were in Hidden Leaf. Naruto shouted, "Yeah! Ramen time after all that crap we've been having!"
Surao grabbed Naruto's arm in a steely grip. "Not so fast. We're reporting to the Hokage-sama first."
Naruto groaned. They all gathered in Tsunade's office. She looked up, tired, but perked up when she spotted Sasuke. Tsunade smiled widely. She got up and walked to the Uchiha boy. She sneered, "I see the other Uchiha got you?"
Surao interrupted, "No, I just kept him preoccupied by fighting him. Naruto got the needles in."
Sasuke glared at Naruto. Tsunade noted that Surao was standing a bit too close to Sasuke for companionship. She raised an eyebrow at Surao. The Uchiha's face grew red. Tsunade grinned wickedly. "Ah, Surao, I see that you and Sasuke, er, have had a bonding with each other?"

Sasuke shot back, "Shut up, old hag."
Naruto protested loudly, "That's my line! Anyway, I'm hungry, can we please get some ramen now?"

Tsunade sighed. She motioned the three away and faced Sasuke. She informed him, "We've dragged you back here because…Itachi is coming. He is after someone in the village, but we don't know who. You want to kill him? Here's your chance, go ahead."

Sasuke asked indignantly, "You dragged me back here so I could kill someone for you?"
Tsunade sighed. "The thing is…we think he's either after Naruto or Surao."

Sasuke asked, "Why Surao?"
Tsunade noticed Sasuke's protective behavior of Surao. She realized, They love each other…I've been so blind…She replied, "We don't know, but she does seem to have a large amount of chakra…she is very powerful. The Sound want her. Orochimaru wants her."

Sasuke remained silent. Tsunade continued, "You are to stay here. Someone must always be with you, wherever you go, so that you do not attempt any escapes. I've assigned Surao this job, and I'm sure it won't be a problem. You are not to go past Konoha's boundary unless instructed. Your job is to protect Surao. Naruto, well, I think he's capable of taking care of himself. Now, you are dismissed."

Sasuke left quietly. He strode through the streets to the ramen stand he remembered Naruto always went to. People stared and whispered behind cupped hands as he walked past them. Suddenly, a voice hailed him. "Sasuke-kun! Sasuke-kun, wait up!"
Sasuke waited impatiently as Sakura ran up behind him. She smiled sweetly. "Surao told me to bring you to the place we're eating at."

Sasuke eyed her suspiciously. "Why didn't she get me herself?"
Sakura seemed at a loss for words, but she quickly said, "I don't know. Let's go, we're keeping her waiting!"
Sasuke followed Sakura hesitantly. They arrived in the park under some cherry blossoms. Sakura turned to Sasuke. She leaned very close to him and asked, "Aren't the blossoms so pretty?"

Sasuke glared at Sakura. "I don't have time for this."
Sakura pouted prettily. She asked, "You don't have time to spend with me?"

Sasuke thought irritably, What the heck does she want? He growled, "Where's Surao?"
Sakura leaned even closer to Sasuke. She purred, "Who cares? Sasuke-kun, don't you think the blossoms are pretty?"
Sasuke lost patience. "No, you idiot, now get out of my sight. I'll find Surao myself."

He stalked away, leaving a teary-eyed Sakura standing under the fully bloomed blossoms. He headed, again, towards the stand he remembered Naruto liked. He spotted Surao waving at him. He waved back and quickened his pace. As Sasuke sat on one of the stools, Surao asked, mock-annoyed, "What took you so long? You didn't forget where Naruto's favorite stand was, right?"

Sasuke ordered a ramen and sighed. "Sakura, she was being weird."
Surao shrugged lightly. She jerked her thumb towards Naruto. Around the feasting boy, there were at least 3 bowls of ramen. She commented, "Just watching him lost my appetite."

Sasuke accepted his ramen with a word of thanks. He asked, "Who's paying for that?"
Surao grimaced. "Me. I can't believe I did that. He was annoying me so badly, I just offered to buy him some ramen."
Sasuke concealed his laughter. It felt good to be back with his friends in Konoha. As the three finished their ramen, Naruto asked, "Where's Sakura-chan?"
Sasuke answered with a heartless response, "I don't know, sulking under the cherry blossoms, maybe."
A glance from Surao shamed him. Surao demanded, "What happened? What did you do to her?"
Sasuke groaned inwardly. He sulked, "She said you sent her to fetch me to bring to the place you guys were eating. Then she dragged me under the blossoms and was talking about crap to me."

Surao grabbed Sasuke's arm. "You heartless Uchiha, we're finding her. Naruto, come on!"
Sasuke allowed Surao to drag him all over the Hidden Leaf Village. Surao finally stopped. "We can't find her anywhere. Maybe she's in her apartment?"
Naruto charged away, shouting, "Let's visit her apartment, then!"
Surao agreed and followed Naruto, dragging a very dispirited Sasuke behind her. At Sakura's apartment, Surao knocked on Sakura's door and yelled, "Sakura, we've brought Sasuke, who wants to apologize to you!"
Sasuke protested, "What, I never-!"

Surao kicked Sasuke lightly. "Just be quiet."
Sakura opened the door. Naruto, who couldn't help himself, let out a terrified yelp. Surao gave a small gasp she hastily turned into a cough, and Sasuke, well, Sasuke was being Sasuke. Naruto yelled, "What happened?"
Sakura looked much disheveled. She gave a small hiccup and stared sadly at Sasuke. Surao leapt into the doorway and slammed the door shut in front of Sasuke's and Naruto's face. Sasuke sighed and sat down on the doorstep. He muttered, "This will take a while…"

Inside Sakura's apartment, Surao was leading a crying Sakura to her couch. She sat Sakura down and ran to make some tea. She brought back a cup of warm tea five minutes later and handed it to Sakura. "What happened?"

Sakura started shakily, "Well, I wanted to spend some t-time with Sasuke-kun this afternoon, so I b-brought him under some cherry blossoms…and I attempted a c-conversation, but all he wanted was to go to the ramen s-stand where you and Naruto were waiting. And…n-now I see it, he loves you, not me, he'll never love anyone but you!"

Surao was a bit staggered under the enormity of what Sakura had just said. She thought wildly, Is that true? He'll never love anyone but me? She tried to soothe Sakura. "Sasuke isn't really…I don't know…I can't…"

Sakura ushered Surao out of the apartment. She apologized, "I'm sorry, you have to go, please!"
Surao tripped on the first step and fell down the stairs leading up to Sakura's apartment. She sat, sprawled on the ground, looking up at Sakura's apartment. Slowly, Surao picked herself up and headed towards Sasuke's apartment. When she reached it, she searched her belt-pouch, and found the keys. Surao let herself in the apartment and turned on the hallway light. She found Sasuke on the couch, reading a book without interest. Surao sat down next to him and curled up, laying her head on his shoulder and wrapping her arms around his neck. She murmured, "I talked to Sakura."

Sasuke sighed and put his book down. He held Surao and asked, "What happened?"

Surao chose her words carefully, "She is really attached to you…and you're unintentionally hurting her…and…she's really…she's a mess."
Sasuke stretched lazily. "I'm so tired of girls following me all the time. Can't they realize I've already found someone?"
Surao's heart skipped a beat. She withdrew her arms and sat up, but Sasuke wrapped his arms around her waist. Surao turned her head away, her mind in turmoil. Sasuke asked, "Surao, what's wrong? Don't you know that I will always love you, and I will never turn to another?"
Surao's heart stopped. That's…that's what Sakura said…She begged Sasuke, "Sasuke-chan, please…you can't love me…you can't love…"

Surao whispered so that he could not hear, "You can't love a demon."

Sasuke asked sharply, "Why can't I love you? Is there something you're hiding?"

He immediately released her. Sasuke demanded, "Do you love someone else?"
Surao looked up angrily. Her shout was so full of force that Sasuke was momentarily at a loss for words. "No!"
Surao ran to the room Sasuke had set aside for her. She flung herself face down on the covers, sobbing. Why can't I tell him? I want to tell him the truth! I don't want to hide anything from him! She didn't hear Sasuke enter. By the time he did, she was already fast asleep, her face a picture of anger and grief. Sasuke sighed softly and washed her face tenderly. He left afterwards, closing the door to Surao's room. Surao turned over and moaned softly. She sat up suddenly, sweating, awake. Her nightmare was so real! So vivid! Surao opened the door and peered out of it. She saw Sasuke on the couch, fast asleep. Surao treaded lightly as she made her way to Sasuke. She took great pains not to wake him as she laid a blanket on him. Surao bent down, looking at Sasuke. She kissed him lightly and retreated to her room. Lying down, she wondered what would happen if Sasuke found out about her secret…her devastating secret. Surao finally got up and crawled out the window. She sought out Naruto in the park. She shook him awake, "Naruto! Wake up!"
Naruto sat up groggily. "Huh? Oh, it's you. What?"
Surao asked lightly, "Um, just wondering…what's it like to have a demon inside you?"
Unknowingly, Surao had touched a sensitive subject. Naruto turned away. He snapped, "Why do you care?"

Surao stood up. "I'm sorry, Naruto. Forgive my ignorance. I'll see you tomorrow."
Surao left hurriedly, heading back to Sasuke's apartment. She crawled through the window again and lay in bed, thinking. She thought desperately, I need to get Sasuke away from me! I'm not…I can't…He can't…Surao fell asleep in the end, tortured by her thoughts. In the morning, Sasuke peered into Surao's room. To his surprise, she wasn't there. He closed the door and exited his apartment. He searched through the village but couldn't find her. Sasuke asked around, yet nobody had seen her since yesterday. Anxiety started to gnaw at him. He attempted to brush it aside thinking, Surao can take care of herself. However, he sought Naruto and asked, "Have you seen Surao?"
Naruto answered curiously, "No, I thought she was with you. But still, she won't be in danger. Surao's very tough."
Sasuke checked with Sakura, who replied with a curt 'no'. Sasuke knew she was still hurting from yesterday, but he didn't have the time to apologize. He thought hastily, I'll apologize tomorrow or when I have time or something. He then found Kakashi-sensei and asked him, "Have you seen Surao? Naruto and Sakura didn't. Neither did anyone else I asked."

Kakashi-sensei shook his head. "No, I haven't seen her, why?"

Sasuke replied worriedly, "She's nowhere to be found…Do you think something happened to her?"

Kakashi –sensei chuckled. "No need to worry about that one, she's capable of taking care of herself."

Sasuke murmured, "I hope so…"

He trotted off throughout Hidden Leaf again, worry filling his mind. Afternoon wheeled around, but Sasuke wasn't that hungry. More to occupy himself than anything, he stopped at the nearest stand and bought a small bowl of ramen. He picked at it, but couldn't get it all down. Finally, he paid for it and left. He muttered, "Surao, where are you?"

Sasuke approached the Hokage's place. He knocked on Tsunade's door. He asked her, "Have you seen Surao?"

Tsunade shook her head. "No, why?"

Sasuke replied, "Nobody has seen her today. Where could she be?"

Tsunade thought for a moment and said gravely, "I will send out minor search parties tomorrow morning. Nothing to be afraid of."

Sasuke detected a hint of fear in Tsunade's voice. He demanded, "What are you hiding from me?"
Tsunade shook her head. "Get going. It's late."
Sasuke retreated into his apartment, worrying over Surao. He tried to reassure himself but failed to. Finally, Sasuke fell asleep with troubled dreams. Very troubling dreams indeed.