The waning gibbous moon was the only source of light in the abandoned area, and even the usual nightlife was quiet, giving everything an ethereal feel. Sasuke sat on the window ledge, one leg hanging over the edge and his head and right arm propped on the other knee, able to look out over the village on his left for approaching threats, but looking to his right at a sleeping kunoichi instead.

She was curled in a ball, her back to him and her hair in a halo around her head. The sheets were thrown to the ground, the warm night causing her to discard them in her slumber. The light that fell in from behind him washed her pink strands a muted lavender-grey, a lifeless color compared to its usual radiant pink that he (secretly) liked.

He looked away at the thought, reminded of how much they were different. She, and Naruto for that matter, were things of the day, with their bright cheery hair. Sakura's eyes, being the beautiful green color they were, belonged to the spring and gentle sunshine.

He could easily picture her as a nymph, or some such mythical creature from his childhood bedtime stories, that lived in a cherry orchard and floated among the delicate blossoms; laughing, singing, and dancing without a care in the world. She was the pale pinks of the sunrise, and she didn't belong with him in the night.

He leaned his head back onto the frame as he closed his eyes, his face as blank as it was before.

'No,'he thought to himself, he was a creature of the night prowling in the dark, basking in the blood and deeds best left in the darkness from which they spawned. She was far better off frolicking in safer places.

'I shouldn't have let her come,' he thought glancing back at her, 'This was a bad idea.'

He found himself headed towards her before he could think better of it and walked on cat's feet to where Sakura slept steadily, his shadow swallowing her. He felt like something was stuck in his throat as he realized she looked dead, colors all washed out and perfectly still on the white stainless sheet of a mortuary. As if sensing his painful thought, she shifted slightly, a faint murmur reaching his ears. He quickly retrieved the fallen blanket and covered her, figuring that since the temperature had fallen, she might need it now.

She sighed in her sleep and stretched out under the new sheet, warming up. She settled with her face turned up towards Sasuke. He swallowed and reached a hand towards a clump of limp hair defiantly out of place. His heartbeat picked up and his breath hitched slightly as he gently swept the silky bit of hair behind her ear, his fingertips ghosting over the smooth pale skin.

He jerked the hand back, surprised to find he wanted to touch her again. He shook his head slightly and retreated, brooding from his perch, refusing to look back at her.

Their plan had been to switch watch after midnight, but as the time approached Sasuke choose not to wake her, wanting more time to his thoughts. He was not one for many words, especially if it had anything to do with emotions. He had even disliked speaking of the offending subject as a child when his mother so enjoyed teasing him with those mushythings.

She had seemed to delight in telling him the lamest stories of star-crossed lovers from the Warring States Era, nymphs and animal-themed goddesses with Uchiha warriors in a love that could never be.

He swallowed thickly again, this time for remembering his mother. He hadn't thought of her specifically for years. When it came to remembering his family, it was the clan as a whole or just his older brother. He hadn't had the inclination to think of them individually for a long time, so he indulged himself now, not because he didn't want to think of Sakura…

She was gentle, he remembered most, always trying to pacify the others and do so tactfully and quietly. She always had a kind word and smile for him, always offering her help…

He wished he hadn't been so quick to brush her offers aside, preferring Itachi or their father's help with training. She never took it personally or scolded him, unless he was interrupting Itachi's training or their father's business….

Looking back, he wondered if it was the business of planning the coup. He still found himself wondering sometimes, why would such a kind and gentle woman consent to such a bloody act? He wouldn't have believed she would have joined it willingly if not for Itachi telling him so.

He used to think she was incapable of any harshness, especially the first few years after the massacre. He knew better now – a ninja was a ninja – even after they settle down and have a family. His mother was already stained with blood, what would a few more drops really cost her? He hadn't thought much of it, until now. His mother was a killer – a true Uchiha in the very bloody meaning of the name…

He frowned bitterly and changed the subject, not wanting to think about it anymore. His anger, always just below the surface, was just waiting to jump on that train of thought and get a ride out of its feeble cage. He grit his teeth and shoved the anger back down. Who said jinchuriki were the only ones living with a monster inside?

Against his will, his eyes flickered back over to Sakura, another good reason to keep his explosive anger in check. He let out a heavy breath and stood up, running a hand through his spiky hair for good measure. He walked over to their supplies, trying to keep himself occupied.

He picked up the three ramen cups on top of the pile and almost smiled, reminiscing about his genin days, having lived entire missions off the stuff, a certain orange idiot to blame. The moron would pack nothing else. He once pulled a stunt by replacing his teammates' stores with…

He shook his head, banishing the warm memory, not ready to think about the orange idiot right now either. The lump in his throat was returning with a vengeance, and Sasuke didn't like it; not one bit. He focused on his work instead.

He went through their supplies thoroughly, checking each item off the list in his head. He ran the numbers, calculating whether or not they would have enough to make it to the next place to restock. They could ration it further if the next place yielded nothing useful.

He sighed deeply as he thought again of how close they were to his destination…

He looked over at Sakura again, an idea swirling to life in his mind. He found himself walking over towards her again, a genjutsu already brewing in his eyes. It would be so easy, so easy to just leave her now. She was slowing him down, right? She would be safer if she didn't come with him, right?

He was beside her then, looking down at her with a serious frown, wavering on the brink of going through with it. She didn't belong in his world after all…

"Sasuke," the word was faint, but it made him jump, searching for the accusing and betrayed green eyes…

But she was asleep still, mumbling something from her dreams. Sasuke calmed down, trying to get his racing heart to do the same. If this was for the best, then why did he feel so guilty just thinking about doing it?

'You don't want to hurt her again,' he answered himself, remembering the first time he left her behind back in Konoha, 'and you're selfish.' Sasuke creased his brow, wondering where that was coming from…he wasn't being selfish…

'You're taking her into danger without telling her anything. Do you really believe you're doing this for her?'

Sasuke lowered his head as he realized he was right. He was being selfish, and it wasn't fair to Sakura. Maybe it really would be best if he left her. He looked back up to study her peaceful face, so angelic, so beautiful. If he was leaving, then he would at least be honest with himself, unlike last time.

He leaned forward slowly, lightly touching her chin as he tilted it slightly up towards him, careful not to wake her. He hovered inches from kissing her, a sudden bout of fear clutching him. What was he doing! He couldn't just kiss her! Especially because she was sleeping!

And yet, if he didn't now, he might never again have the chance. He certainly couldn't wake her up first; she would fight him for trying to leave…

So he pulled back, heart surprisingly heavy, and turned to the window. He wouldn't use a genjutsu after all; it felt too much like rubbing salt in the wound he was creating by leaving in the first place. He took one step but was stopped by an iron grip on his wrist.

He looked back, expecting her to be awake, but instead, she clutched his wrist with a fitful frown on her still sleeping face. He lost the wavering will he had to leave, whether from the selfish desire to not be alone or something nobler, he didn't care to discover. Tonight, he couldn't leave.

Perhaps later, when they were closer to his goal, he would slip away. For now, he was content to sit beside her, holding her hand and smoothing away the concerned wrinkles in her dreaming face.

Elsewhere…like a few miles away

"They're staying at an inn. Sasuke was still on watch when I left, but he was leaving his post. I get the feeling he was either switching guard duty, or…entertaining himself."

"I would have gone in for a closer look if it weren't for those eyes of his. The kid has gotten ridiculously more powerful with those new eyes."

"I wonder what it must have been like to watch Itachi through Itachi's own eyes," the dark side finished with a grin, completely off topic now. Madara/Tobi/Nobody listened with half an ear, his mind on more pressing matters. When both sides stopped talking, he nodded and turned to face them, "Keep following them. Let me know when they are almost there, or if they separate. I have somewhere to be in a few minutes…. or more accurately, I have someone to meet. Apparently, Kabuto's whole purpose for bringing the girl into this was useless because Naruto has saved us the trouble of hunting him down. I think the time for tolerating the snake is drawing to a close."

Madara clenched his fists a moment as he again thought of that troublesome girl. If only he had killed her earlier…she was an unnecessary nuisance and variable in the mix. Sasuke should have no use for his former teammate…unless…unless he was interested in her, reforming the bonds he had worked so hard to sever.

He wouldn't, would he? The boy was clearly against him now, but all the same, he should not be so far past his hatred that he would actually try to rebuild those relationships…right? He frowned again and turned to leave, dismissing the pair with a wave.

Both halves nodded, the black half asking with gleaming eyes, "Can I eat Kabuto? I've always liked snake meat."

Madara nodded his head, uncaringly, before vanishing into his swirling vortex. The Zetsu pair melted into the earth muttering to each other plans for their next meal.