Meilin: YO!

Sasuke: -Shaking his head- She's Back.

Meilin: Yeppers! I'd like to thank all of my wonderful reviewers, especially Kage-kun! (Who once again reviewed within a day of my update! I feel so loved!) Edward! Disclaimer.

Ed: No.

Meilin: Duo! You then.

Duo: I did it last time.

Meilin: Sasuke?

Sasuke: Don't look at me.

Meilin: Do I actually have to do it myself this time?

EDS: YES!

Meilin: Awww... -Cries-

Disclaimer: Honestly, if I owned Naruto, would this be a fanfic? Morons.

Meilin: And remember: I know this is a fluffy chapter, but it sets up a very, VERY important piece of the story, so dun flame me! -puppy eyes-

Warnings: Sasuke/OC, HinaNaru, Mild OOCness, Mild Fluff, Mild Angst,

Shamdeo: -Jumps onto Meilin's stage- WARNING: The stunts performed on this show are done under the supervision of professional ninjas. We are not liable for kunai knife stabbings, falls from jumping up trees, and sexy jutsu groin pulls.

Meilin: -Blinks- What are you doing here Sham?

Shamdeo: You said I could have a cameo! You promised MeiMei!

Meilin: Oh yeah. Okay then. ON WITH THE FIC!

---------- A Shinobi's Fate Chapter Four: Hope For the Future and A Disappearing Act----------

Meilin yawned as she woke up. She wrapped herself tightly in blankets, doing her best to go back to sleep. Suddenly, Sasuke pulled opened the blinds. She groaned and hid under the covers.

"C'mon Meilin." he chided. "You can't sleep all day!"

"I can... And I will!" she said, turning her back resolutely to the window.

Sasuke jumped onto her bed, pulling the sheets of her head. "You can't possibly be that tired."

She winced. "Yes I can. I'm sleepy and sore and not moving, so why don't you go explore with the others?"

Sasuke shook his head. "I'm not leaving without you." he said, stroking her cheek. He froze. "Your skin... It's like ice."

Meilin smiled reassuringly. "It's cold in here, that's all." she said.

'Like hell it is.' thought Sasuke. 'I slept in boxers all night and wasn't cold at all.' He slipped under the covers and rested her head on his chest. "I can't have you getting sick on me."

She turned red. "Sasuke..." She couldn't bring herself to pull away. It felt nice to have a constant source of warmth at your side. It felt.. Right somehow, to be pressed to close to Sasuke. She felt herself becoming drowsy again. "What time is it?"

"Eight."

"I'm going back to sleep then... Go out, have fun with everyone. I'll be right here when you return." she mumbled, her eyes flickering closed.

Sasuke shook his head and gave her a gentle squeeze. "No. It wouldn't be right to leave you." his hand cradled her head. "That's not the shinobi way."

Meilin smiled. She took comfort in the rise and fall of his chest, and in the soft thump-thump of his heartbeat. Her hands, almost of their own accord, slipped around his slim waist. "Sasuke... Thank you..." she murmured, burying her face in his chest. Tears began to slip through closed eyes. "Thank you..."

He smiled softly. "Mei... I love you." She looked up in shock, but before she could reply, he captured her lips in a sweet kiss. Her eyes fluttered closed, and in that moment of perfect serenity they forgot all else. They pulled apart only once their lungs screamed for air and Meilin's frozen mind began to work once more.

She looked up at Sasuke, her pale face tinged with red. "Sa-Sasuke.. I..." her eyes watered. she hugged him tightly, burying her face in his chest. "I love you too... Sasuke..." she suddenly became painfully aware of every inch their bodies touched. She reddened more, tears threatening to spill all over again.

Meilin and Sasuke lay three, content in the silent embrace, for another hour. After what seemed an eternity, Meilin looked up at Sasuke. "All right. You win. I'll get up."

Sasuke smirked. "Good."

Meilin yawned and disappeared back into the closet, reappearing not in her usual robes, but in a plainer outfit of lose blue pants and a white tee shirt, her Sunagakure headband tied around her arm to hide the bandage. She brushed out her hair, pinning it back into its normal double-bun style, and tied her purple travelers headband on.

Sasuke smirked as he threw on a new outfit. Dark gray UFO's went on first, followed quickly by a form fitting black shirt. He tied his headband on as well, and grabbed Meilin's hand. "Let's go!" he called, dragging her from the room.

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Meilin and Sasuke met up with the others, who were being guided around Suna by Kankurou and Temari. Hinata, holding Naruto's hand, waved at the couple. Meilin smiled and nudged her younger friend. "Finally got him, hm?" she whispered. Hinata turned red.

Sasuke laughed and glanced towards the sand nins. "Where's Gaara?" he asked.

Kankurou shrugged. "Disappeared. he'll turn up soon enough. Probably."

But Gaara did not show up during their trip that day. Nor had his teammates seen hide nor hair of him the next. The genin went to bed that night curious, but unconcerned. It wasn't that unusual for a ninja, especially one of Gaara's caliber, to be sent on a solo mission. Even so, Meilin, jonin that she was, was worried. She sat on the edge of her bed, dressed in pajamas and lost in thought.

Sasuke sat beside her. His sudden touch startled her out of her trance-like state. "Something wrong?" he asked, slipping an arm around her shoulder. She shrugged noncommittally. Sasuke smirked. "Is it Gaara?" he asked. "C'mon, Mei. You can talk to me. Tell me what's wrong."

Meilin sighed. "I can't, Sasuke. I... I can't." she said softly, pulling away from Sasuke and looking down.

"Why not?" he asked, looking hurt. "You've been keeping all these secrets from me lately. We never used to have secrets..."

His voice tore at her like the sharpest of blades. Every word, filled with the disappointment in his voice, was a crushing blow to her soul. tears slipped down her cheeks, unchecked despite the mask she wore on missions and the walls she erected to protect everyone.

Sasuke put a hand on her shoulder. He had a good idea of what was holding her back. "Meilin... what's most important to you?" She froze for a moment. He was starting to get to her. "In the society of Shinobi, those who do not follow orders, are worse than garbage." he said quietly, quoting his sensei." But those who do not care for and support their fellows are even lower than that."

She thought back. When they were younger, they could tell each other anything. The two were practically joined at the hip and smiling despite their past. Nothing was hidden, no lies were told. But when Meilin became a jonin, she sat farther from her friends and she sat on secrets. All of them were sadder now, and she wondered; was this really how things should be?

That did it. Meilin turned around and threw herself at Sasuke, apologizing endlessly. Sasuke smiled warmly, like he did when they were small. "It's okay, Mei... It's okay..." he told her her again and again.

She wiped her eyes. "Look at me. I'm look like such an idiot, crying all over... You must think me a true fool..."

Sasuke held her gently. "You don't look stupid at all. Don't worry, I don't think the less of you for this, not one bit. You were just doing what you thought was best." Meilin's whole body shivered in relief.

She hugged him. "Gods... Sasuke... Thank you..."

He smiled. "I won't make you tell me what's wrong, Mei." he said, "But when you need me to listen, I'll be here. You can trust me."

Meilin nodded. "Yes I know." she said softly. "But it's so hard... To knowingly shirk my oath as a ninja." She looked at Sasuke. He was sitting expectantly but silent, watching her. Eyes the color of midnight gazed into her own, empathy reflected in their gentle depths. She understood now. He wasn't asking her to ignore her oath. He was asking not to be shut out anymore. He knew what it was to shirk duty as well as he did. She breathed deeply.

"Gaara isn't the first genin to disappear."

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Meilin: And that's it for this chapter! Only Three Chapters left until Part Two!

Gaara: HEY! WHAT ABOUT ME!

Meilin: -shrugs- I'll bring you back... Eventually. You're only in this fic as a plot device anyways... Just like Naruto's only in this fic to parallel Sasuke...

Duo: And to serve as the co-star of the companion fic you're making with Hinata as the main character.

Meilin: That too. Where Naruto parallels Sasuke. My god boys, don't you know what a metaphor is?

Ed: -Looks up- A what?

Meilin: -Sweatdrop- Never mind...

Sham: And now, the closing notes, done by the Slayers Penguins:

(((Reference to the fic I co-wrote with Schweppes, Toxicity AKA The Kingdom Hearts Anime Crossover Extravaganza)))

Penguins: REVIEW PLEASE!

Meilin: Yay! I taught them to say stuff besides "Don't interrupt our..."

Duo: That was supposed to be the closing.

Meilin: To bad! This is my birthday present to my wonderful reviewers! Hey, if you wanna get me a present, SEND ME A REVIEW! (-Shameless Plug #101-) I wants reviews for my birthday on Sunday!

Sasuke: OMFG look! It took her under a week!