Chapter 17

After resting up a bit I had set in the corner of the room once I had hung a blanket over the window and made sure the door was locked before even feeling safe enough to pull out my food storage scroll. I had retrieved a blood packet and looked down at the cool red liquid safely kept in thick clear plastic. The sight of it made my stomach clench for more reasons than thirst. I have always hated feeding. But… closing my eyes I sigh as a tear rolls down my cheek. I haven't fed on anything other than Light Yagami for so long. His skin was the last to touch my lips as my fangs sank deep into the soft spot of his neck. His heartbeat pulsed beneath my touch and pumped warm intoxicating blood into my mouth. I had only fed from him. He didn't want me to lose control and harm someone and he had said blood bags was below me after we had actually thought of the option. Now, I had to bite into a thick tasteless plastic just to retrieve chilled blood. I am having to purge my memory of Light and replace it with this knock-off.

Hours have passed since then as I was sitting on the front porch with my bare feet skimming the water below me. I knew I was still going to remember Light even after drinking that blood bag. It still felt as if my heart was tearing to shreds all over again at the reminder that soon. The taste of his blood will fade from my memory. I will lose a part of him. Closing my eyes I force the newfound tears back so none would spill before laying back on the wood porch and looking up to the moon. The others have long returned from training. They were now happily eating inside thinking I was still resting upstairs since I had slipped out of the window to be here. After today that window didn't seem so high up anymore. Maybe this was a sign that I was getting over my fear. I hope that is true. If it is. Then I will be able to make it all the way to the top of the tree on the first try tomorrow. Then I could get that training over with. Upon hearing running footsteps closing in on me I open my eyes. Standing before turning towards the house. Using my chakra by pinpointing it to my feet I run up the side of the house without even thinking about it to the roof.

Once on the roof, I look down to see the little boy, Inari. Sitting where I had been, crying the very tears I had managed to hold back. It was then I realized something that made my eyes widen… I just climbed the house like I had been trying to do with the tree! Jumping in place, I nearly squeal with joy. Settling for a giggle I lay down on the upmost top of the house looking up at the moon. "If I can climb a house, why can't I climb the tree?" I ask myself aloud raising my right hand and sifting my fingers through my bangs. Brushing the soft tendrils out of my line of sight. To leave the view of the moon unhindered.

"You probably didn't psych yourself out before you climbed." The familiar voice took me by surprise. Looking out of the corner of my eye towards the location of the voice I take in the shadowed form half covered by the night while other parts of him were well lit by the moon.

"What are you doing up here?" I ask him before looking back up to the Moon. Hearing him walk closer to me before he himself sat down.

"I was going to see if you were alright. Even brought up a bowl of food for you." He spoke holding out a bowl to me. Taking it from him I set it on the roof on the other side of me.

"Thank you. And yes, I'm fine. I don't stay down for too long. In fact, I feel better than I have in a long time." I speak to him leaving out the whole bit of feeling stronger as well. Silence followed as if that was all he had planned to talk about but yet... He didn't move. "Did… You need anything else?" I quietly ask. Uncertain if I should have said anything or not.

"No." He spoke straightly though he still... didn't move. Which is fine by me. I guess. "… Why... Are you so different?" His voice was barely above a whisper nearly causing my own thoughts to drown him out.

"What do you mean, Sasuke?" I ask glancing back to him from the corner of my eye. Realizing just now that he was sitting right next to me. He was looking up at the moon. The moonlight reflecting off of his dark eyes and causing his pale skin to practically glow. If I hadn't known any better, I would have thought he was like me in more ways than what he actually is.

"All of the girls... They fawn over me. Fight over me as if I belong to them.."

Rolling my eyes I scoff. Great, my distance is hurting his ego. "Sorry to burst your ego. You aren't my type. You're too much like me, I guess. You are withdrawn, hateful, self-assured. But don't think that you never intrigued me. You caught my curiosity as time went on. But, when I heard about your family. Before you became like this. I wanted, to reach out to you. I wanted to talk to you so you knew you weren't alone. The only reason why I never spoke to you was because of the wall you put up. You didn't let anyone close to you." I muttered closing my eyes remembering the times when I'd watch him in class.

"So, I'm not your type but you wanted to talk to me?" He asks curiously as I could feel his eyes on me.

"I wanted to be your friend. Nothing more. When I realized I couldn't easily talk to you, I started pushing myself to be better than you. I figured if I couldn't be friends with you. Then I would fight like hell to be an obstacle for you to overcome in order to be the best."

"So that's why you were always better than me. You didn't do it like everyone believed. It wasn't to show everyone up."

"No. I wanted to push you to be better. So that maybe one day, we would talk. So one day, you would know that you aren't alone. Aphrodite and I are here. I know all this sounds like I'm in love with you. But I'm not. Beyond the wish for friendship… I feel nothing."

"So your temper with the fan-girls, with Sakura.."

"Is purely out of annoyance. They believe that since they have crushes on you that they own you as if you are an object instead of a human being. It shows neither respect nor actual emotions. They only fight over you like they do because you are something they can't have and they know it. Which would be interesting, if it didn't lash out at me. They always thought I was trying to compete for you. When I always knew it was improbable. You weren't interested in anyone. Your heart was in too much pain. You merely existed in life until your hatred completely took seed and began to grow. It was then that you let your grief take over and vengeance yank you further into darkness. None of the girls understand you. The boys only liked you because they wanted to be you in the eyes of the girls. None of them. Can understand the depths that loss can drag you into. The world shrouded in shadows beneath their own perfect lives…" Biting my bottom lip I force my mouth to stop moving. So I could successfully shut up.

"So... You do understand." He muttered before falling silent. I could hear the crickets chirping from somewhere on the ground below. A peaceful silence. One that was beginning to threaten to allow my own emotional torment to take control of my mind again. "I used to watch you.." He whispered causing me to look at him again.

"I know." After saying those two words he suddenly looked at me. Locking his gaze with mine before I slowly closed my eyes again. "I could feel your eyes on me in class. I couldn't ever tell if it was because you hated me or was cussing me out in silence though."

"It was neither..I... You were the only girl beyond Aphrodite who didn't… Fan-girl. Over me. You were strong, and smart, distant, and cold. Your features were so similar to my own. Close enough in similarities that I often wondered if Aphrodite wasn't really your cousin.."

"You thought I was an Uchiha. Huh." I found myself smirking and I set up to look out at the moon's reflection on the water. "No. I'm not. I'm sorry. I have met other Uchiha though… Before the... what happened." I whispered to him before biting my lip. I needed to be careful of what I tell him. Especially about this topic. I could feel his eyes on me. His silence urging me forward to explain. Closing my eyes I began searching for something to say. To explain how I met other Uchiha before the massacre.

I couldn't very well tell him that I went there that night. Saved his parents and got them out of the village in secrecy. "This woman... She was so beautiful and looked a lot like my mom. She was so nice to me when I met her. When I told her my name. She looked at me with a knowing smile. That confused me. She mentioned that she had a boy in the academy. The same year I was in. It made me happy." I muttered before standing. Walking towards the edge of the roof with him still sitting in silence behind me. "She said her son's name was Sasuke. The very dark-haired boy who had caught my curiosity since the first day of school. You had a wonderful mom. One, who loved you very much. Such a love I know your pain rivals my own." Turning at my waist slightly I look back at his wide eyes. "I'll be up here every night until the end of this mission. If you wish to join me… You may." With that, I leap off the roof only to land upon my feet next to... None other than Kakashi on the porch. "You should be asleep, old man." I mutter to him as I walk towards the front door of the house.

"I had gone to check on you, and you weren't in the room. If I had known you and Sasuke were on the roof together. I wouldn't have listened in."

"Yeah. Right. You and your pervy ways were probably hoping something intimate would happen. Sorry to disappoint you." I stop walking to look back at him. He was leaning against the wall all nonchalantly with his book in hand.

"You didn't. I didn't know you had such emotions buried inside you." He looks at me with a smile causing me to scoff and walk inside. It's time for bed and if I hang around I'll probably try to kill the perverted old man.

The next few days went relatively slow. I had been out with Naruto and Sasuke most of the time training. As far as Kakashi knew, I was just as far behind as the two boys. Being unable to complete the tree climbing training without being blinded by rage. What he didn't know however was that I had been able to make it to the top of the tree since I had recuperated from the first day. I had been running up the trees and leaping around on the branches along with the trees themselves. Trying to get myself over the fear that still trickles through my body each time I flip through the air at these heights.

Every night since the first night. Sasuke has been meeting me up on the roof of Tazuna's house. He had only brought food up with him one other time before he realized I wasn't eating the food he was bringing me. When he had asked I felt safe to tell him that I didn't want to talk about it. Surprisingly he understood. Most of the time we would set in silence but others we would talk about the academy days, training, or even the time I had met his mom. I had to tell him about how lucky he was and how after that one meeting I really liked his mom. He tried asking about my family and avoiding the fact that I don't really care for my parents I would tell him about the family I had come to know. Even Saiyu and how she liked to squeal about almost anything especially when it came to mom bringing home her absolute favorite treat. I could get chuckles out of him every now and then as I would tell him about my family. As far as he was concerned though they were my real family. I never mentioned Light or the fact they were basically my adopted family until they became my in-laws. He didn't need to know that much about me.

Even though the pain still aches in my chest when I think about the death note world and everyone I had ever loved who lived there. I found myself smiling at times as Sasuke and I would look up to the moon. With every story, I told him he would return the favor, of course leaving out the memories of his older brother. Other times we would just lay in silence, there was no need for words as we would watch the moon. It was during one of those times I had actually fallen asleep on the roof but only to wake up in the room upon the bed that was designated my own. I could only guess that Sasuke had brought me back into the room so I didn't accidentally roll off of the house in my sleep.

Now, with Sasuke at my side, Sakura on the other side of Kakashi who was beside Tazuna as we walk towards the bridge. With Sasuke and Naruto having finished training yesterday I had no other choice than to give up my own training for the time being… The training to conquer myself. Looking down at my hands I clench them into loose fists in front of me then loosen them again. Ever since my fangs came in and I started drinking again, I've felt differently than I had the last time. Could it actually be there is more to me that I didn't know of last time besides the power within me? Yet, I get this feeling I need to devour my weaknesses, both physical and mental. I need to cast away my fears somehow. Of course, I also realized what Aphrodite had meant all those years ago. That I would have to set up a feeding regimen for after exerting my energy. Every day after training I've had to consume a blood pack to replenish myself so I wouldn't feel drained or weak anymore.

Walking towards the end of the bridge we see the workers incapacitated still laying where they had been previously working. Moving my hands to my blades I look around giving Kakashi a glance to see if he was thinking the same thing I was. It was then mist begins to roll in causing my eyes to narrow. "Sasuke, Sakura, Kira. Get ready!" Kakashi says as we automatically move around Tazuna to protect him.

"Kakashi Sensei it's Zabuza isn't it?" Sakura asks as I hear both her and Sasuke reach for a Kunai. "This is his hidden mist jutsu."

"Sorry I kept you waiting Kakashi. I see you've still got those brats with you. That one's still trembling... Pitiful." I hear Sasuke make a small sound of surprise as Zabuza's water clones surround us. Gripping my right hand on one of my blades I pull it out and glare into his eyes.

"I'm trembling with... Excitement." Hearing Sasuke's words I couldn't help but smile. I'm glad he's worked his way past fear to be able to enjoy this.

"Go on Sasuke, show him how much you've grown." Kakashi says and I nearly giggle as Sasuke takes down all of the water clones before any of us could blink.

"Ooo, so you could see they were water clones huh. The brat's improving." I see the two of them step into view through the mist. "Looks like you've got another rival Haku."

"So it seems." He says then looks at me. "You've become stronger since your last fight with Zabuza."

"So it seems, you must be the tracker they had been talking about." I smirk watching for even the slightest shift of his weight.

"I am"

"Well Haku, I know you are probably itching to fight her. Why don't I let you two fight it out."

"Thank you, Zabuza." Walking ahead of the others I continue to stare Haku down, my hands itching to fight him.

"That's it I'm taking him out, who does he think he's fooling hiding behind that mask, like some sort of clown." Sasuke says next to me and I give him a glare.

"Sasuke" I turn my blade in my right hand so the curved tip of it points towards him. "This guy... Is my prey, so just back off." I turn my attention back to Haku, narrowing my eyes at his mask. "This will be my only warning to you."

"Hn." He responds but doesn't make any move to back away. Oh well. I mentally shrug. As long as he doesn't interfere he could stand there all day if that is what he wanted to do. Haku begins spinning towards us at enough of a speed he looked like a miniature tornado. Bringing my blade in front of me I watch even as Sasuke asks. "What's this?" I catch the boy's needles against my blade with a smirk slowly pushing his arm back. When he pulls his hand away he tries again to strike causing me to deflect it.

"You are quite strong." The boy mutters in realization as he attempts to attack me again pushing me to deflect his needles again. I look at his mask and smirk in his direction.

"You are too, but I can tell you are only testing me. Why are you holding back?" I question tilting my head at him as we fight for dominance over who is stronger. The sounds of metal scraping on metal as we do, neither one of us willing to back off even for a moment.

"Sakura, Sasuke cover Tazuna and stay close to me. Let Kira handle this." I hear Kakashi say and Sasuke growls. Before I knew it the boy spins again this time catching Sasuke's kunai. Feeling my hand twitch from irritation I find myself nearly attacking Sasuke. Lowering my head I watch the needle and Sasuke's kunai scrape against each other. Why would Sasuke get in my way? Why would he take my prey?!

"Sasuke!" Sakura yells causing me to look at her my hands trembling with the urge to just do away with all of my headaches at once. No, we are part of a team. I can't hurt Sasuke... I guess I can sit back for now and watch how he does.

Seeing water in the air I roll my eyes. As a thought runs through my mind. If this gets him, he's too weak and I never should have taken an interest in him. I watch him focusing, clearing his mind as he directs his chakra. Smiling seeing him chakra step at the last second to avoid the water needles by leaping into mid-air. Hmm. Well, I see he is stronger now. I have to admit that. Shoving the bubbling anger down to a dull simmer I try and keep myself calm.

The boy barely even having time to realize Sasuke was now above him in mid-air before Sasuke throws a couple of shuriken down at him causing him to leap back even further. "Kakashi." I speak up.

"Yes, Kira?" I heard Kakashi's voice come from behind me as he was watching Sasuke and Haku.

"Do you remember what I swore years ago?"

"Go for it, Kira." Nodding in response I shove my chakra to my feet closing the newfound distance between Sasuke and I. Upon reaching Sasuke I connect a solid kick to the boy's face sending him sliding back to Zabuza. Standing straight I glance at Sasuke tossing him a nod showing him I had calmed down.

"Thought I was just going to back out of this fight? You were sorely mistaken." I smirk watching the boy as he stands.

"You made a big mistake insulting these ninja calling them brats. That's just guaranteed to bring out Sasuke's attitude. Kira also known as the Ice Queen. Together, they make up the best young fighters of the hidden leaf village." Pfft. Did you forget Aphro, old man? "Sakura is our sharpest mind." Sakura giggles sticking her tongue out as I roll my eyes. "And last but not least, our number one Hyperactive Knucklehead Ninja is Naruto Uzumaki."

"What is it, Kira?" Sasuke asks drawing my attention to him seeing his guard still up but he relaxes somewhat looking at me.

"Don't let your actions come before you think anymore. You stole this fight away from me yet you think I'll be alright with that… If you let your body just act without thinking you will lose against him. Don't let yourself get too cocky. And remember, I have your back." I then take a few steps away from him so I was out of the way. Having seen the regret flash through his eyes when I had spoken about stealing the fight away from me was certainly apology enough. Now I can focus on what's at hand. Especially seeing the smirk now visible on his features. He now understands that I am still his friend.

Zabuza's chuckling draws Sasuke's attention forcing me to look away from him. Why had I been staring anyway? "Haku, if we keep going on like this we'll be the victims instead of them. Get on with it!"

"Right." Haku says standing up with his head bowed. His blue chakra leaking from him visibly.

"What's that?" Sasuke asks slipping into his fighting stance.

"I'm sorry it has come to this. Especially now that I see you do have someone special to you." Haku says as I feel his eyes on me as if he and Sasuke had a conversation in the short time I had spoken to Kakashi.

"The air it's so cold." Sasuke says as I see Haku raise his hands in a seal. Cold! Ice…. A hazy memory pops into my mind about the anime. Why my mind jumped to the conclusion suddenly was beyond me. Well, I'm not going to argue with it. Go with my gut feeling. Shaking my head I leap forward shoving Sasuke back away from me before what looks like an ice mirror forms behind me.

"Sasuke stay back." I say looking around as a dome of those ice mirrors appears around me.

"Like I'm going to let you have all of the fun." Sasuke mutters as he appears next to me again, staring around us in wonderment. "What's happening?"

"You should have just stayed out of this Emo boy, now we are both stuck in this jutsu." I hiss at him in irritation before taking in a breath, what's done is done there is nothing I can do about it now. "I'm not too sure. It looks like ice." I speak watching as the mirrors begin to glow and Haku walking up to one. Sliding into it before the image of him appears upon all of the mirrors. "How.."

"As if I was going to let you take this fight back without me. Hn, I thought you were smarter than that, Kira." Sasuke cuts off my question as he mutters with a smirk before we hear running come near us. I turn in that direction just in time to hear Zabuza.

"If you enter this fight, you fight me. Those kids of yours stand no chance against that Jutsu, they're finished."

"Now we'll begin." Haku says from all around us. "And I'll show you both what speed, really means."