Akanishi-san: Woot! Last chappie! Hehe. Well, it just depends if I want to make a continuation chapter to this, should I?

Ch8

Both Naruto and Gaara sighed in relief as they slumped to the ground, exhausted. "God…" Naruto muttered, completely laying on the ground now, his front facing the sky. "That was one tiring event…"

Gaara had to nod. It was very tiring, and now, he could not wait to get to bed. Not of course sleep because of his demon, but at least, rest. He leaned against a tree for support to sit up.

Minami smiled at them weakly. She of course was very tired, especially because she fought the demon and the demon was now trying to fit into her. "Thanks you guys." She said to them.

"Minami." Minami turned around, now face to face to none other than Sasuke. His eyes showed anger. Her face fell with the tone of his voice. She knew why he was angry, and she would be too, if she were in his shoes. Oh yes, he was angry, but not from just not anger, but betrayal of her not trusting him with whatever just happened.

His eyes softened however when she looked at him with worry in her eyes. "Look…you better tell me whatever just happened." He sighed, looking over his arms and legs to make sure they were completely healed. Although he wanted to yell at her for not trusting him with this, he did not want to yell at someone he loved. Yes, loved…and those green eyes…her eyes had now darker shade of green, probably from the bird he suspected, but it was now very beautiful. Not that they weren't before, of course.

"Sasuke-san…" She murmured, letting go the breath she was holding. She felt so relieved that he was not as angry as she thought he would be. "I…I'm sorry."

Sasuke shrugged, "I thought you called me 'Sasuke' earlier. I like that better, without the suffix please." He said casually as he now looked at her for any injuries. His eyes then rested on her neck, where the burn mark was. He frowned at it. He recalled that before the bird appeared, her neck joint was glowing. Was that whatever that happened's origin? "So…?" He asked in a questioning tone, now looking into her eyes.

Minami looked away from his eyes, but told him her story. During this time, Taka had swiftly pecked, scratched and chased away Gaara and Naruto away a little further for privacy.

When the story was over, Sasuke was carefully sinking in the new information. "Why didn't you tell me?" Sasuke's voice was almost a whisper.

She flinched when he said those words. Not only the words showed anger, it showed betrayal. "Because…" She paused, looking at him again, then to the ground. "I thought you would hate me…"

Sasuke raised his eyebrows, surprised. Maybe hesitant, but NEVER hate. "Why would I hate you?" He asked her, now relieved that it was nothing personal that had kept him away from the truth.

Minami looked up, her face showing surprise as well. "You…don't think it's scary that I have a demon in myself?" He shook his head. "Sasuke, you don't get it, I could be dangerous!"

Again, he shrugged. "You don't seem to be." Was his reply. He then froze. "Wait…does that mean…today is your birthday?" He looked at her, wide-eyed.

Minami nodded. "Erm…yes…" Why was he acting this way? Wasn't he afraid?

Sasuke slapped himself in the face as he groaned. "Sorry…"

She could not believe her ears. No…way! He forgives her for all of this, he's not afraid, and he's saying sorry because he forgot her birthday soon as he found out she had a demon? Yeah. She officially named him Crazy in her head. "Sasuke…are you serious?"

He nodded, still feeling a bit guilty. He vowed to make it up to her. "Yeah, why would I hate you? I happen to know Naruto is a demon and Gaara as well. What would be the difference with you?" He paused for a second. "But I am angry." Her face fell at those words, now feeling very guilty. She looked up just in time to see Sasuke lean over and rest a hand next to her on the ground, and one around her waist, pulling her into a hug. "I'm angry because you didn't tell me so I can protect you."

((AN Ya, they happen to be sitting that close because I said so))

Minami gasped when she was pulled into the hug, but she soon relaxed at his words. "You know how angry I was when I found out Gaara and Naruto seemed to know more about you than I did?" He asked, now looking at her. "Although I know I should not know anything personal, but…I wanted to know…even after all those days, you still didn't tell me what they knew and it made me angry…" She looked away from his eyes. "However…" Her eyes snapped back up to see him smiling softly at her. "Now that I know, I'm not that angry."

"That angry?" She asked him, blushing now. Their face was so close, and his arm was still around her. "So you are still angry with me?"

He nodded. "But…I'll let you off with this." He then swiftly kissed her on the lips.

Minami stiffened when it happened, but when they parted, she was back into reality. "SASUKE!" She nearly yelled it out, but remembering that she was still in his arms, she held back the yell so not to kill his ear drums.

Sasuke still winced at her sudden outburst, but kept his arms around her. "Yes?" He asked as if he was innocent and oblivious to everything. "Did something happen?"

Minami's mouth opened, but closed again, opening again, but closing again with no sound coming out. He chuckled at the sight. It was very amusing to see. "It's not funny!" She hissed at him, now regaining her voice.

"Oh yes it is." Sasuke murmured back, but before he was able to say anymore, another voice cut through the forest, bringing the other 2 ninjas and Take flying back.

"Sorry to interrupt."

Both Minami and Sasuke jumped apart from each other at his voice, their kunai out in ready stance. "Orochimaru…" Sasuke growled out his name. Now that he knew he wanted Minami, he was NOT going to let him have her. Not when he was around.

Gaara and Naruto had already arrived on the scene, both in ready stance, Taka pumping air with its wings hovering in front of his master protectively. The next movement was Orochimaru entering the ground where they stood.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I have come to collect my belonging." He flicked a gaze at Minami, who looked very tired. 'Good, one can't fight it seems…' He thought, and sure enough, Minami was on her knees, trying to stand up, but unable to do so.

"Stupid!" Gaara hissed at her, using his sand, he created a clone of himself and made it stand next to Minami. "You just had that thing go into your body. It'll take a while for it to settle. You will not be able to form chakra for a while and your muscles won't function normally, so stop trying." His words stung her since she was useless at that point, but rested her legs onto the ground. "Even if you can move it, it might cost you your life. Sudden chakra usage after taking in all that chakra from Suzaku might cause dysfunction in your body. Remember that."

Cost her life? Sasuke looked at Minami worriedly, and turned back to Orochimaru. He had to protect her. "Minami," He said, catching her attention. "I guess now I owe you one." He smirked at Minami, and without waiting for an answer his demon wings grew out of his back, his skin color changing, and now on his face, was the cross. "I have a secret as well…I too have a demon…Well not a demon, but demon form." He chuckled at himself as if it was nothing that mattered.

((AN: For those who did not read or watch the newest anime or manga released in Japan, Sasuke now has a demon form himself))

Minami stared at him wide-eyed, gaping at him. He had a demon form? But that question was not answered, for Sasuke, Naruto and Gaara jumped into a fight against Orochimaru while she helplessly watched, Gaara clone and Taka watching her to make sure she did not join in the fray.

Orochimaru had defiantly come in at the wrong time. Not only did he miscalculate their strength, he did not know Sasuke was now able to control the power. He thought that Sasuke would not use his form. Orochimaru had thought he had made sure Sasuke would not be able to use the form against him!

He growled his frustration as he jumped back, trying to avoided their attacks. He had thought they would be tired from the event…he didn't expect the bird to heal them all! Everything was not going right to him.

"Kakashi showed me how to control it." Sasuke said casually as if they were simply having a cup of tea as he tried a swipe at him. "Didn't think I could, did you?" He smirked.

Naruto growled as he formed Rasengan in his hands, Sasuke already forming Chidori, Gaara now getting ready for Sabaku Sousou, his hand out stretched. Seeing Orochimaru had no other way to escape, his gaze flickered at Naruto. He vowed to take his life, because he had stopped all of his plans. He had stopped him from getting Sasuke, and now Minami!

Orochimaru quickly made his seals before the 3 ninjas could attack, and a dark lightning was already rushing at Naruto. "NARUTO!" Both Sasuke and Gaara gasped his name out, surprised.

Naruto was unable to move, his hand was trying to adjust from rasengan into a dodge. This was the negative part about his new attack, the bigger and stronger version of Rasengan needed someone's back up. Right now, he didn't have any. Sasuke's hand was now not holding Chidori, but his legs were not trying to get Naruto out of harm's way, Gaara trying hard to switch from his sand attack to defense. Everything seemed to go in slow motion, except for the lightning.

However, when everyone thought the lightning had connected, someone else was in front of Naruto, fire blazing around her, her angry green eyes glaring at Orochimaru. Both Sasuke and Gaara gaped at her, Naruto bewildered, trying to focus.

"You will not kill any more people, Orochimaru." Her voice echoed through the forest as if the forest was her. She brought her hand in front of her, like Gaara when he does his sand attack. "Honou…" She muttered, fire blazed around Orochimaru, covering him. "Sokushi…" With closing her hand, the fire completely engulfed Orochimaru, burning him into nothing, with no cry of pain from him.

Gaping at the new scene, the 3 other ninjas made no more move. But…they did soon as they saw Minami collapse to the ground.

"MINAMI!"

Unknown Place

'Where am I…?' Minami thought as she slowly opened her eyes, or so she thought. All she saw around herself was darkness, nothing more. Just black, that was all. "How did I end up here? What's going on? Where are the others? Why am I here!" She yelled out her frustration as she tried to walk in the darkness. A small chuckle greeted her. Oh, she knew who it was all right. "Take me out of here! But first...where is this place?" She was quite curious.

Fire erupted in front of her in the darkness, but oddly, it did not light up the place. The fire soon changed shape, to the bird, towering over her with its green eyes glinting, yet a comfortable aura around itself. "You are in a realm between life and death." It said simply as it ruffled its feathers.

"Am…am I dead?" she whispered, horrored. NO WAY!

The bird shook its head. "What part of realm between life and death do you not get? No, you are just momentarily dead." Seeing her quizzical look, it chuckled once more. "I have stopped you from going to the dead side you know, when you used that attack. That was very stupid of you, you could have died."

"Well I am, aren't I?" She retorted.

The bird watched her with amusement dancing in its eyes. "Ah, well if you want to go ahead and die, go ahead, I won't stop you. Then I won't have to keep an eye over stupid human girl." Minami opened her mouth to retort, but the bird beat her to it. . "However, I see that someone is in need of you in the living world. He seems quite desperate." It chuckled. "I suggest you go back."

"And how am I supposed to do that!" She growled, running out of her patience. The bird acted as it was all that! Pft!

"Hasty to see him yourself, aren't you?" The bird mused. "Ah, well come along, I will help you return to your world, I will watch over you, my nestling. Call me when you need me, I will be there for you. I will help you when you are in trouble, I will not try to take over your body without your permission. I will do everything I can to serve you, as long as I se it right."

She smiled at the bird as it suddenly changed into its fire ball form. "You better." She mumbled, and she could have sworn it retorted something along "duh" but the fire had suddenly grown in size, blinding her, something was pulling her, into life.

Back in Konoha

"Minami?" Someone's voice asked hesitantly at the figure on a bed at a hospital. Sasuke was sitting on a stool next to her bed, looking at her worriedly. Sasuke was always around her all this time she was unconscious. And he could have sworn she had moved, something he wanted to see for days while she was in bed. He feared that Gaara's prediction might come true. "Minami?" He asked again, when her eyes opened slightly.

Her head slowly moved to where he sat, her green eyes groggily looking at him. "Sa…suke?" She muttered his name, her eyes slowly focusing.

Sasuke's eyes widened at her words. She was talking! Moving! She was…all right! The doctors had said if she regains herself from the coma, she would be perfectly all right. And now, she was all right!

She slowly sat up, rubbing her eyes, looking around. Where was she? But her thoughts were soon cut off, when Sasuke brought her into a tight hug.

"Sasuke-kun, how is she?" Sakura asked, walking into the room, holding a vase full of flowers. However, when she saw the scene, she hurriedly jumped out, closing the door behind her. She was heart broken. Even though she knew Sasuke might have feelings towards Minami from the first day she came, it still hurt her. But…it also relieved her. Now Sasuke had someone to care for…She let a single tear fall before she went to inform Naruto and the others that she was awake.

"Sasuke?" Minami asked, blushing madly. "Sakura-san just came…" But he would not listen; he just kept his arms around her tightly, his face hidden under her red hair. "Sasuke?" She asked hesitantly, pushing herself back a little to look at him. "Are you…crying?"

Sure enough, when she looked at Sasuke, there were tears on his cheek. "I thought…I lost you…damn it, Minami! Why did you almost die on me!" He growled his frustration to her, a tear leaking out again. He was truly, from bottom of his heart, happy. "I…I thought you won't come back…"

She smiled at him tiredly. "Of course I would be back…" She brushed a tear away from him. "I would never leave you, Sasuke…"

Sasuke brought her into a hug again. "You better not…"

She returned the hug. "I won't…I won't leave someone I love…And that's you, Sasuke…"

Akanishi-san: ARRGG…Okay, on the last part…Taka had graciously left soon as he hugged her. Lol. Yeah…forgot about him, and I didn't know how to plug him into this soon as I saw I forgot him. XD

BTW REVIEWERS:

TO ALL: Sorry, im not supposed to be online so I cant to indivisuals like I always do. But, I would like to thank each one of you though. Thank you for all the supports you have given me, and I love you all for that! Thanks! And, well I have already thought of a continuation to this. I donno if I want to do it. If I do feel like it, I will, I promise! So keep your heads up for more chappie on this! Hehe. Thanks again for all the supports!