Chapter 2: Snow Mountain

Rei got up in the morning around 3. She was used to getting up early when she lived at the temple.

First, she put some water on the stove for tea, She went to get dressed and founds she still had a deep wound a crossed her left arm. She sighed, well I guess it's good that I'm right handed. When the water boiler steamed, she went and put the herbs in. After that, she put on her sailor's outfit. "Oops! Almost forgot this!" Rei said.

She took out a charm necklace. It was a tiny thin chain that had the Ying-Yang symbol, it the back words were in graved it read : Balance - Sun and Rain. She held it tight and remembered what Snow said before she left.

If you ever feel lonely, and no one's around hold it tight and I'll be with you in inspirit. Just know that your never alone. And that you need balance. Be hard yet gentle at the same time. It may sound hard but it's a secret to be the best you can. You and I are like sun and rain so different yet only by working together do they create piece and life

Always remember I'm with you…

She put it on. "I need you now more then ever, I feel so alone."

She went out the door and a soft breeze brushed snow lightly on her face. She smiled so she was with her after all.

She walked through the forest where she found the bridge to meet about a half an hour later. Nobody was there, but she waited. And pretty soon, Sasuke came. She didn't really notice, because she was meditating in deep thought of Snow and trying to figure it all out. She grabbed her necklace, and whispered I need you. Sasuke could barley hear but made the words out, then he started to wonder about this mysterious girl. Was she hurt? What is wrong with her? Since no one's around…. "What's your problem?" she slightly opened her eyes. "How long have you been there?" - "about 10 minutes, what happened to you what do you fight for?"

"Daddy was a soldier…

He taught me about freedom
Peace and all the great things that we

Take advantage of.

Once I fed the homeless, I'll never forget
I look upon their faces as I treated them with
Respect…

This is my Vietnam
I'm at war
Life keeps on dropping bombs
And I keep score

Momma was a lunatic, she liked to push my buttons
She said I wasn't good enough, but I guess I
Wasn't trying

Never like school that much, they tried to teach
Me better
But I just wasn't hearing it because I thought I
Was already pretty clever

This is my Vietnam
I'm at war
Life keeps on dropping bombs
And I keep score

This is my Vietnam
I'm at war
They keep on dropping bombs
And I keep score
She looked up and put hand out, a spiritual figure of her Mother stood in front of her. The figure turned away in disgust.
What do you expect from me?
What am I not giving you?
What could I do for you to make me ok in your
Eyes?

This is my Vietnam ("This is my Vietnam")
I'm at war ("At war")
They keep on dropping bombs ("Dropping bombs")
And I keep score"

Rei stopped and a voice echo through the trees.

This is my Vietnam
I'm at war
Life keeps on dropping bombs
And I keep score

This is my Vietnam…

The wind blew harder and it became harder to see. Sasuke shielded his eyes from the snow and wind then out of the snow from what he could see was a dark figure that looked like a women She had black hair and a red kimono. Part of her hair was pulled up in a bun with a hair ordainment around it, while the rest of it hung down. Her lips were rose red and her eyes were a light blue-gray with a charcoal black eye shadow. Her face was as white as the snow, in other words she was all out beautiful.

"This is my Vietnam…"

When she fully realized who she was. Rei just left Sasuke right where he was standing and ran up to the women, with tears in her eyes and running over as fast as her legs could carry her. The women knelt down and hug the little girl like she wasn't ever going to let go. "I told you I'd be here" But you said you weren't coming till next week. The women thought about this. "Well…I lied you said you need me now so I came now." She looked up and seen Sasuke this must be the famous Sasuke Uchiha?" "Yes…I am who wants to know?" "Oh yes introductions, My Name is Flying Snow, Fa. Your friends are coming and your sensei is behind the tree on the left of me" Kakashi came out from behind the tree. So you found me, well I guess I'm not wait I use to be" - "Nonsense it's just because I have senses 50 times those of a human. Your actually at the peek of your stealth." Then Naruto came charging in. " Hey who's that?" He looked over at Sasuke. "That is Flying Snow, Fa" Sakura came asked who the women was with the same answer. "Well you should start your lesson don't let my presence bother you." Snow finally replied. Yes, get this bell before noon, Ready-Set-Go!" To easy… Rei thought. Her eyes flames and a light line of fire cut the bell from Kakashi, then did a flame transport and landed behind him and caught the bell before Kakashi could turn around. The shinobies fell backwards and Kakashi got an anime tear drop. "Well….that was quick" He replied out of shock. Snow got a tear drop. "Guess I trained her better than I thought, although she was a fast learner." she shrugged her shoulders "Good job Rei" "Yes very good" Kakashi added. "But sensei what about all that teamwork stuff you told us?" Sakura whined. "It's okay Sakura all this means is we did half to waste chakra on it." Naruto trying to be the hero to Sakura. "Yeah I guess your right." she added. It went into Super-D and Naruto was dancing around. "Oh yeah, score one for the big guy…" Mistress Snow always said their was a simple solution to things, and it wasn't about force it was about cunning and being quick to figure out a plan." Snow walked up to her and put her hand on her shoulder. "Yes I did and you learned well."

Mistress Snow more superior than I gave her credit for... Sasuke thought.

"Okay then. Your next mission will be tomorrow Morning. Remember to bring snow jackets" Kakashi said. "But why Kakashi sensei?" Sakura asked confused "You'll be traveling into the snow. There's a village that we need to go to, we need to bring a daughter out of danger and to a different town. Blizzards have already come to where we are going. They'll get stronger each and every hour. You can choose to except it, or to be sent back to the academy." Kakashi explained.

At the moment , Naruto and Sakura felt giddy. They both were thinking the same thing well, sort of different. Sakura: Perfect. If I pretend to be cold, Sasuke and I can snuggle! Awesome! Naruto: Yes! Now if Sakura gets cold, she can snuggle with me!

At that moment, Rei was reading their minds. She sweat dropped. "Sensei, when do we leave?" she asked. "Tomorrow Morning at 6A.M." he replied. "First." Snow said. She looked over a Sakura. "there a matter of a journal that was stole." "Sakura looked like she could have been anywhere but there right there and then. "A yeah, you know I wasn't going to do anything that I said right Rei?" Rei had a sarcastic smile "right" Kakashi was gonna punish Sakura when Snow stepped in. "I don't think anymore needs to be done" Naruto crossed his arms. "And they said I was immature…" "Well, gang get some rest I'm gonna go file the reports for the day. Better get some rest you gonna need it tomorrow. Oh and before I forget will Mistress Snow be joining us?" "Yes with Kakashi's permission of coarse." "It's alright with me, maybe the kids will learn a thing or two." He looked over at Sasuke frowning, Rei crossing her arms and shaking her head, while Sakura chased Naruto around the two of them. With you along it means someone else can watch the pipsqueaks. Kakashi started to think about it and smiled behind his mask. Snow seen what he was looking at and took charge. "Alright that's enough all of you head for home and get some rest." Both everyone except Sasuke, Snow, and Rei remained. Kakashi vanished and it was only them. "Well now that that's out of the way…You still half to get rest." "but what about you? Aren't you tired from your trip?" "No, now you hurry home and rest" By now it was getting dark and the Northern lights appeared and in the Mountains appeared a circle. Snow's eyes turned white like she was in a trance. "Sitka" she whispered before stepping towards the light. (Remember Sasuke still there.) What is that? He started to wonder. Snow walked right passed him like he wasn't even there. She was in a trance and the world just seem to disappear. She walked into the light and an eagle carried her up into the clouds. When she came down nothing was different. But this got Sasuke wondering. What was up there? She came down and acted as nothing happened. HE decided to ask her. "Mistress Snow?" "Sasuke, what are you still doing up?" "I was wondering what was that light?" She looked at the ground. "Oh yeah." "What happened? What is the light for?" She sat down and Sasuke sat right next to her. "That light was the Great Spirits" His yes widen. "the light of the dead?" "Yes those are the ones" "Well what are you doing with them?" She smiled. "Sitka, is why." Who is Sitka? "He was my partner, just little here you have squads there we pick our partners and whoever he/she is, is your partner for life. See he and I were did every mission together. Then one night our mission was to get rid of the deadliest demons on the Japanese land.

Flashback-

Ahhhh. Snow was flung against a tree. "Snow!" Sitka cried out. Snow was unconscious and the demon was chasing after her to finish what he started. Sitka ran over and stabbed the monster with his silver spear. The demon cried out and knock Sitka over to the ledge. This hurt the mere human greatly. The demon crawled back over to Snow and swung it's one great paws up. And it heard a crack and stopped to look. By now Snow had waken and look at the great crack in the ice. Sitka had jabbed his spear into the ice. With all remaining strength pulled the spear out and the cracked ice broke and fell into the river below. Snow's eyes widen as she ran down to see if he had survived. She didn't find a body but instead the top of his spear and his totem the Eagle for leadership . She went to the village and a ceremony was held in honor of the great Sky. He was adopted into the lights, never to hurt again.

End Flashback-

I was wounded trying to take it out and the demon. As it heading my direction to finish me off. See it had gained enough chakra to take out an army. We were on a glacier about a 100 ft up in the air. He stuck his spear in a crack and the glacier cracked and fell into the river below it took the demon and him with it. The thing I remember most was him giving me a slight smile before he died." "He must have been a brave warrior" Snow smile. "yes……..he was" "Well she stood up. "We'll have a along day tomorrow."

She smiled and walked back with Sasuke to his apartment. "Well good night now." He glanced up. "Don't you have a place to stay?" - "Yes, but I'm not going there." - "Why? Don't you need to sleep? - "No, I don't" - "Then where are you going to do till sunrise?" - "Just wonder around" - "I see" She put her hand on his shoulder. "don't worry about me. Ok?" He nodded and went inside.

Next morning

Rei was standing at the bridge alone when Sasuke came. She looked away as a sign of respect. HE noticed this and decide that she was an ok person to him, unlike always cheerful Sakura or jealous Naruto. No something was different about this girl. She was quiet, unemotional, and was trained with great disciplined greatly. She noticed something today though on her left cheek was a deep scar in the shape of an X. (like Kenshin's scar) "Rei, where did that scar come from?" She looked up and gently touched the scar and a slight smile came to her face. "This scar came from my half sister. Lita. She is a half demon who never respected anyone or anything. One day she decide to disrespect Snow, and when you only have two people in the world who care for your safty you'll get over protective. Now I know that Snow was older and could of handled it herself but I was stupid and decided that it was time she learned respect and went to battle with her. Like I keep the flame she held the lighting. This scar was a burn from the final blow she left me with. As she left me this scar I left her one of lightning on her forehead" She started to think about Kenshin. (Kenshin is little to, k) I wonder where you went…? Sasuke had been thinking about what she said. could it be that this girl is all alone in the world? She said there were two people. Snow is one then who is the other…? "So that scar is a result from a battle?" - "That's what I said." - "You said that there were only two people in the world you cared. Right? - She frowned then looked at the bridge. "Why you wanna rub in you popularity?" - Sasuke's eyes widen. No girl ever treated him like that. He already liked her for this. It wasn't the challenge she gave, no. it was that she didn't hung all over him like a lost puppy. So at this he smirked. "Just as I figured" Rei said irritated, then walked off. "Where are you going?" - She stopped. "For a walk your highness." She turned around. "Is that ok Mr. Popular?" - "That's enough." - Her eyes widen no one talked to her like that. "What the hell do you want from me?" - "What is your problem?" - The backround around her went white. The only guy that ever paid attention to her was Kenshin.

". Nothing. Your girlfriends and Naruto are coming" - "GIRLFRIEND?" - "Yes your girlfriend Sakura" - "She's NOT my girlfriend!" HE said angrily. - "If she's not then why is she always hugging you and she even told me you're her boyfriend?" - Sakura and Naruto came up to the two of them. "Hi everyone" Naruto blurted out. "Hey Naruto" Rei replied - "Boy don't sound enthused" Naruto said sarcastically? Sasuke pulled Sakura aside. "Why are you telling everyone I'm your boyfriend?" Sakura started to think and looked over at Rei talking to Naruto and scowled at her. (Back with Rei and Naruto)

"What's with him? Talking to his girlfriend?" - "Looks that way." Naruto looked back and forth between Rei and Sasuke, and got an evil grin on his face. "your jealous of Sakura and Sasuke aren't you?" - "Not at all" - "WHAT! Every girl here likes Sasuke!" - "Well I'm not every girl am I?" - "Well I guess not. But don't you like Sasuke even a little?" - "He's a team member nothing more." - 'Yeah, BUT WHY! WHY DON'T YOU WANNA FIND SOMEONE SPECIAL!" - "Cause I don't wanna be hurt again." She walked away and left Naruto dumbfounded. Naruto now felt awful.

(Back with Sakura and Sasuke)

"I'm sorry Sasuke" Sakura said trying to sound sympathetic - "You're a waste of time"

Sakura whined at this. Both went back and joined Naruto. "Where's Rei?" Sasuke asked. "She went off to the river." Naruto explained Sasuke sighed. "What did you do now?" Sakura questioned "Nothing all I asked is why she didn't want to find someone special, she replied that she didn't want to be hurt again and walked off." - "Naruto why do you have to keep getting into trouble?" - "I didn't mean to hurt her feelings intuitionally. HONEST!" - "I'll go get her." Sasuke replied. Sakura suddenly felt lower than dirt at what she had done to Rei. Sasuke started off towards the river. By the river Rei stood there in her sailor suit and looked off at the river. Sasuke just stood there for a minute, then walked up to her. "You better come back to the bridge Kakashi will be there soon." - "I don't care anymore." - "What do you mean?" - "I mean I do care anymore I was dragged from my home, the village I lived in just to come here and be the laughing stalk of this village." Sasuke started to feel a little sympathy towards the girl. She had been taken away from everything she knew just to come here with almost no one to look up to. "Do you have any idea what it's like to never have anyone to talk to, to share things with? Or to have everyone shun you because you different? If anyone here even knew what it was like… boy this place would be a lot different." Sasuke didn't know what to say. When he came here from his clan he had no friends, he had no one. That's why he learned to stand on his own and never to trust anyone here. He offered his hand and regretted how he treated her earlier. She smiled and accepted his help. They were getting to know each other better and it didn't take a single word. He had finally found someone like him and she had found some acceptance.

OO - Rei and Sasuke already making a friendship thingy. HEHE. 2 chapter up! WEEEE! I love my job. Anywho Read and Review. I'll have the next chapter up soon! Thanx again to Mars Cutie and her story Delicate Ember. Till next chapter….

Blackraven51