"Between too early and too late, there is never more than a moment." -Franz Werfel

The storm had increased in the waning day, as night began to set in it continued the electric dance between the heavens. Tress swayed in the wind like a silent audience waving its hands to a beat, each shedding blankets of water from their limbs and budding leaves.

Standing, shadowed by a tree was a boy, his face shrouded by his dark locks that clung to his face through the rain. A sudden beeping broke the air and his head tilted until his eyes spied the florescent light shining from his digital watch. As if obeying his thoughts the light stopped and the watch ceased its high pitched chimes.

'11:52' Sasuke thought to himself, partially dreading the time as his feet carried him to the bridge. Seeing no one there he melted back into the shadow of a tree, his onyx eyes never leaving the spot as the rain tapped heavily on the wood. Searing light clashed overhead as followed quickly by thunder. 'I shouldn't do this.' His foot stepped back, almost bowing to his urge to simply run.

But he didn't. He knew he wouldn't. He couldn't. As much as he needed to leave he needed to stay, to wait, albeit impatiently, until she showed. It had taken him countless arguments in his thoughts, each as strained and desperate as the last. His fingers curled by his side, even in the biting cold he could remember the way her hand had fallen into his.

Those thoughts, they were the reason he was here. They had to be gone they were intruders into his mind. The sanctuary that he had kept so clean and focused for years was tainted by those ideas that stowed away in his conscious. 'I'll prove I don't care for her.' He thought, his hand pressing roughly into the tree to shock away the memory.

Minutes passed and his impatience began to break as he watched the bridge in disguised anticipation. Gradually with each second his hope at resolving the matter seemed to sneak away only to be replaced by anger at the girl who was causing him so many problems. His clothes were beyond soaked but he waited, resolving to leave if she didn't appear before his anger snapped.

His watch chirped again, signaling midnight and his fingernails dug into the tree's bark, chipping the wet wood under his nails. He turned, giving the bridge one last scornful look before he began to stride away.

Another shot of lightening lit the sky and a distance droll of thunder rumbled in the distance. Glancing blankly at the storm above him he continued to walk, ignoring the rain patting onto his head and running streams over his face.

"Sasuke!" His foot stopped in mid-step and he glanced disbelievingly over his shoulder to see her standing there, drenched, shivering and panting as though she'd run 50 miles to reach that spot. The edges of his lips tipped intoa comfortable smirk as he watched Emiko rest a shaking hand on the railing and drop to the floor, leaning against the side before her hand slipped from the railing into her lap. Darknesswas thrust overhalf of her face, shrouding her blue eye and casting her brown into a fierce light as lightening struck through the clouds. Slowly her eyes closed and she leaned against the bridge while she placed a hand over her soaked shirt to rub her neck.

Seeing the opportunity Sasuke stepped silently forward, like a shadow himself

as she was unaware to his gaze until he stepped onto the bridge with a soft tap. His hands rested in his pockets, his coal colored eyes never leaving the girl sitting before him. Hearing the sounds her eyes snapped open to see him standing before her. Instantly she was on her feet, rubbing the back of her head nervously while she attempted a small smile.

"I lost track of time. I came as fast as I could." Sasuke watched as the rain broke on her head, tears of the storm gently gliding down her face. 'Stop that.' He ordered himself, quickly forcing himself to remember why he was there. 'To show you don't care.'

"Sasuke we should probably go inside." Emiko murmured, her voice almost overwhelmed by thunder that reigned overhead. Studying her clothes it was clear they were both soaked, her hair was darkened to almost black in the mix of nighttime and rain. The only light was of the residency building lamps, casting a warm glow to her dampened face. Sasuke was sure he looked almost the same and Emiko shivered as the wind lashed at them. He refused to show anything as the wind swirled around them and stepped closer to her.

"Sasu-" Sasuke held the sides of her face and hurriedly claimed her lips. A taste, to find how imperfect she was. It had been the idea, the gesture behind his appearance, he was going to be disgusted by her and never think of her again. The thought surprisingly never entered his mind as he felt her step back against the railing of the bridge, her motions expressing the surprise her mouth couldn't. As he began to pull away,thoughts began to invade his mind for a split second. They only lasted a split second before theywere tossed aside carelessly as she moved forward, not willing to let him leave her.

Rather than the blessed thoughts of disgust at her motion he felt himself welcoming the motion, his thoughts only of how her lips tasted faintly like oranges. Finally he pulled away and stepped back, his mind reeling from what had happened as Emiko adverted her eyes, her eyes slipping into shadow and out of his gaze.

'Shit.' Sasuke cursed as he couldn't find a shred of disdain in his head for the girl standing before him, her hand shaking nervously as a pregnant silence begged to be broken between them. Rain dropped down her face, gliding over her pale lips and he forced himself to take another step away from the source of his problems. 'I...' This was supposed to show he didn't care! Sasuke felt anger boiling in his stomach and his hands curled into fists. 'This wasn't supposed to happen...'

Without a second glance back he took off, ignoring the noise of surprise from the girl he left behind.

A/n: So what do you think? I might do another 11:52 chapter from Emiko's perspective. I kind of like this chapter but it's the first kissing scene I've written so I wasn't sure. Sasu-jerk is being stupid leaving a poor confused Emiko back on the bridge. Review pleeasie

-shyshi