Moon and Tree (II)

Your eyes are a mirror
Your grace fills my soul
Your heart like a river
Your tears are my own
They are my own

Well I feel like I'm walking on hot coals
And I don't mind getting burned
But I fear for this soul
You fell into my life
The way a star falls from the sky
Now I'm forever lost in your eyes

Blue Rodeo

"Kasumi-san?"

She's not going to…

"About last night…"

Idiot! She said she wouldn't say anything more about it, but you had to go and bring it up, didn't you Sakura? God, you're so annoying.

"Yes, I thought the inn was quite lovely, too. Did you notice how they coordinated the lanterns according to the season? I've always liked the mood that creates." Eh? That's a serious non-sequitor, even for crazy Kasumi.

"I meant about…"

"Sakura, I know what you meant. I was giving you a chance to let the topic go, but we can discuss it if you really want."

"Well, it's just that…"

Kasumi looked at her with mild interest, in a way that suggested she was going to get bored with this very quickly. Personally, Sasuke was surprised she could show any interest at all. Sakura was just so boring, always going on about love and relationships and talking. Mostly in the context of her and him, it seemed. Why can't she take a hint?

"I'm really, really sorry. We should never have done that."

"No," Kasumi agreed. But she's not condemning us yet.

"It was really childish, and I just wanted you to know…" Sakura didn't seem able to find the words to express what it was that she wanted Kasumi to know.

"Sakura-chan, there is nothing that needs to be explained. You did something silly without thinking, but no one got hurt. And before you start talking again, think for a moment. What if I, or someone else, came to you disguised as Sasuke? And don't give me that look, Uchiha boy, we both know she has a crush on you."

Sasuke grimaced when Kasumi gave his ear a playful tug. It wasn't so much that he didn't want people talking about Sakura's crush on him - it was a bit annoying but it didn't bother him that much, and seeing her blush when someone mentioned it made up a little for how annoying she was - but more the fact that someone had once done just what she said.

It had been their first day together as a team. He had been so sure, so confident… and then Naruto had tied him up and used Henge-no-jutsu to impersonate him to Sakura. At least Naruto had had an upset stomach that day, or the tensions on their team would be even worse than they already were.

"Sasuke-kun… you knew?" Sakura sounded a bit breathless. Great, now she's going to think I'm playing hard to get or something stupid like that.

"Of course he knew. Even though the Uchiha's have a tendency to be blind to what's right under their noses." There she goes, mentioning that man… "Or I could go to Naruto as you," Kasumi went on to Sakura as though totally unaware of the inner turmoil she caused Sasuke every time she mentioned the Uchihas or, more specifically, the only other remaining Uchiha. It's not like she can't know how I feel about him.

"Oh no!"

Kasumi's grin was just the smallest bit mean. "I don't think he'd mind. But you wouldn't like that, would you, Sakura-chan? Or Baby Uchiha…" she interrupted his reverie. "I could come to you as Naruto." Now her grin was positively malicious.

For a moment, Sasuke was choking on words as he tried to deny what she'd said. "That's disgusting!" he managed at last. "Never, never in a million years…"

"Calm down, Little Uchiha," Kasumi said, giving his ear another playful tug. "I'm sure you don't feel that way about Naruto. I'm sure you like him as a friend and teammate…" she glanced up to where Naruto was filling Kakashi's ear with chatter, "when he isn't really pissing you off, I mean, but you haven't given any indication that you feel that way about him." She leaned down to whisper in his ear. "But if you do, you might want to tell him sooner or later."

Don't lose it, don't lose it… "That's disgusting!" Why can't I think of anything else to say? It's just so, so, so gross!

"I see. Naruto!" Kasumi called. The blond turned to face her, trying to walk backwards to keep up with Kakashi as he did. Within seconds he was flat on his ass in the dirt. "Sasuke wanted me to tell you…" Get her! "… that he's in love with you." Sasuke tackled her, but too late. "He couldn't keep it a secret any longer," Kasumi finished cheerfully from her place in the dirt, with Sasuke sitting on top of her desperately trying to get her to shut up.

"I am not," Sasuke said loudly. Sakura and Naruto were both bright red, silent as they tried to figure out what to say to Kasumi's pronouncement. Kakashi-sensei was looking on serenely, but Sasuke thought he detected a hint of a smile behind the man's mask. Go on, laugh, he thought savagely. Half the village thinks you're gay, anyway. Although they certainly wouldn't after they saw the way the man looked at Kasumi. It was sickening… and completely besides the point. She… she… how dare she!

"Are you going to let me up, Baby Uchiha? You're heavy." Kasumi was giggling a little bit, but otherwise nearly as calm as Kakashi. Not like Naruto, who had decided that the situation called for some good swearing at the world in general, or Sakura, who had come to the conclusion that this was somehow Naruto's fault, and was screaming at him and getting ready to bash him a good one.

"And if I decide to sit here a while longer?"

"We risk missing dinner at the inn. The one we're staying at tonight came highly recommended. Especially the pork dumplings."

Stupid, idiotic… is food all she can think of at a time like this? He stood up, grudgingly, but didn't offer to help her up. She ignored him anyway, and sprang lightly to her feet. Then she walked off, and Kakashi-sensei followed her, leaving the three genin to bring up the rear, still bickering.