When Sakura and Kira found out there were hot springs at the hotel they squealed in delight at the relaxing waters. Captain Yamato had taken care of checking them in where a nice employee had shown them to the locker rooms to change. Kira and Sakura wasted no time stripping out of their clothes and placing them in the lockers and dashing outside joining the other ladies.
Easing into the hot waters the girls each let out a hiss of pleasure. The warm waters felt wonderful on their skin. "This is amazing," Sakura moaned sinking lower into the water. "We've never had this on a mission before."
"That's because Kakashi's cheap." the girls giggled together thinking of the male, the warm rocks sent Kira into a wonderful state of calm. She felt like she could just take a nap right here. She felt like her worries were slipping away. "Oh don't let me forget, I need to call Gaara and let him know we got to the hotel safe."
Sakura smirked at the girl "And not the hospital?"
"Kakashi knows that nothing bad will happen with Captain Yamato in charge. Besides Gaara worries about me." she kept her left hand in the water keeping it out of view from Sakura. It always made her sad whenever she saw it, she still never had the courage to tell her what had happened between her and Sasuke. Kira knew how much Sakura loved him.
Sakura leaned against the rock keeping her front pressed against the warm rock. "I'm jealous, I wish I had someone to worry about me like that." she closed her eyes smiling to herself "When we get Sasuke back I'm sure we can try. Maybe we can go on double dates!" She squealed at the idea. "I already have the perfect outfit for you. Gaara will love it!"
Laughing nervously Kira looked away running her metal fingers through her short locks making her hair looked slick back "Well we'd have to be in Suna for that but maybe."
"Thats fine, Suna was beautiful."
"Don't go looking! Why're you always going on about penises anyway!" Naruto's voice yelled from the other side causing all the girls to giggle or snicker. Everyone but Kira and Sakura.
'Damnit, Naruto you're too loud!'
'Why is Sai looking at Naruto's penis?! Is that what guys do when they're alone!?'
Sakura face reddened even more leaving her to sink further in the water with her embarrassment
"Boys are stupid." Kira muttered looking at the gate on the men's side. She could only guess what Naruto was going to do now.
Sakura had left first leaving Kira alone in the water, many of the women had left as well leaving only a handful of women in the waters. Her eyes traveled over the area till they rested on her pruned left hand. The thick white scars wrapped around the skin in a jagged sloppy job at making his house crest. She couldn't help thinking of him now. How close he would sit next to her when they were introducing themselves to the team.
'I'm Uchiha Sasuke, I have few likes and many dislikes. My hobbies are none of your concerns, and my dream...no my ambition is to kill a certain man and revive my clan.'
That is what he first said to the new team. She should have known back then that he was talking about Itachi, that she shouldn't have been surprised that he wanted to revive his clan. He was alone and wants nothing more than to have his family back.
'Kakashi stood staring at his team. "Tonight, Sakura you sleep with Tazuna in the first tend. Naruto and Kira will sleep in the second tent. Sasuke you and I will sleep in the third tent."
Sakura's face turned to rage. Shooting up from her spot. Though she didn't get to argue. Sasuke stood staring Kakashi down.
"Are you sure you want Kira-san to sleep with Naruto? After today Naruto could freeze up again and could slow her down. Something could happen." Kakashi thought it over.
"Right…Kira, you sleep in my tent…" Kakashi started. "Kakashi, Naruto won't get in my way. Besides he won't freeze up again! Besides you snore. Why don't you let Sakura and Sasuke sleep together?"
Sakura squealed at the thought. Sasuke paled.
"No. Kira you sleep with Sasuke. Sakura, you still are sleeping with Tazuna, Naruto you'll just share a tent with me."
Tazuna furrowed his brow between Kira and Kakashi.
"BUT WHY?!" Sakura screamed. She really liked Kira's idea of sleeping with Sasuke. Just the thought of being so close to him. She would be able to rub it in Ino's face for the rest of her life!
"If it really bothers you that much Sakura, you could sleep with me and Naruto can sleep with Tazuna." Kakashi said pulling out his favorite series Icha-Icha Paradise.
"No way!" Sakura yelled. She quickly scurried into her tent. She would rather sleep in the same tent with Tazuna than that pervert!
Sasuke smirked to himself. Finally, he and Kira could share a tent. One of many nights together.
The memory of how he somehow got Kakashi to let them sleep in the same tent together. That cocky bastard was smart and got the great Kakashi to let him share a tent with her. Unfortunately while doing so he was able to steal her first kiss.
"I have some ground rules before we sleep." He stated sitting up staring down at her. "One, don't try to be near me. Two, don't touch my stuff. Three, not under…"
"Shut up. I don't plan on touching you, looking through your stuff and I plan on staying as far away from you as possible." She snapped glaring at him. She didn't even like Sasuke like that.
Sasuke glared. "With my experience with girls they always want to be near me."
"Well I'm not like most girls."
"Excuse me if I don't believe you. I just want to get a decent night's sleep while on this mission." Sasuke snapped. He knew she wasn't like most girls that's why he loved her so much.
"Sasuke if I liked you I would have acted like Sakura." Kira snapped. She didn't want to do anything romantic with him! She liked Naruto. It was one sided sure but she still liked him! She was fine being just friends with him.
"You're telling me that you don't like me."
"No! Get over yourself Sasuke. You aren't that cute."
At this point both teens were face to face. A few inches away. A few feet away Sakura was cheering to herself because Kira was keeping her word that she doesn't like Sasuke.
"Keep it down over there." Kakashi yelled from his tent.
Sasuke grabbed Kira's face and pulled her into a kiss. Her eyes widen in shock. He was kissing her. Sasuke stole her first kiss.
She didn't know what to do. But she didn't like this kiss. Not at all. Sparks shot through Sasuke's body. This was what kissing Kira was like. She wasn't pulling away from him. He knew she liked him.
Kira pushed him away after the initial shock wore off. "What was that for?" she snapped glaring at him. How dare he take her first kiss! She wanted Naruto to take her first kiss!
"Seemed like a good thing to do." He shrugged.
"I told you I don't like you." She snapped.
"I highly doubt that." She was fuming "Go to bed Sasuke." She snapped rolling onto her side and glaring at the side of the tent. She was pissed.
She still couldn't believe she woke up the next morning having to push the brooding boy off her, they had somehow ended up snuggled up against one another in the little hours she had slept. Funny how she thought of that now. They were close to the tenchi bridge and Kira mused that it was because the closer they were to finding Orochimaru the closer they were to finding Sasuke.
She wasn't sure what she would do when she saw him? Stare at him frozen unsure what to do? Hug him tightly knowing he was still okay? Hit him for almost killing her? But what if he thought she was dead? Would he believe it's her? What would she do to prove that it was really her, sure she could show him her left hand but anyone could know that she had that scar now. Read his mind? No Ino was capable of doing that with her own jutsu. He might think that it was a trick...or he could actually believe it was her. That she was alive and well.
"Oh Sasuke why're you so difficult." she grumbled sinking further in the water submerging completely. She could think better there. Why was she thinking of the Land of Waves and her fight with Haku?
'It had happened so fast. One moment Kira and Naruto were done for and the next she felt a strong warm body overtop of her own. Her eyes widened with fear as she saw the ice needles poking out of his skin. They were everywhere, but the ones that scared her the most were the ones sticking out of his neck. Sasuke stood straight in front of the two of them, or at least he tried to.
"Sasuke! You…" She couldn't form words as she watched him stumble in front of her.
"N-no…" why did he do this?! Why did he sacrifice himself for them!
Sasuke grimmenced glaring down at Naruto "Now get that lame expression off your stupid face, you screw up." He said weakly his balance almost completely gone.
Kira shot up to her hands shaking as she reached out to help him. Tears were starting to form. This isn't good. This isn't good at all!
"W-why?" Naruto stuttered fearful for his friend.
Sasuke fell into her arms completely unable to stand any longer. He felt how warm she was, he could feel how much she was shaking. He wouldn't be able to fulfill his dream but at least she was safe.
"Oh god no, Sasuke hold on! I-I'll heal you! J-just hold on!" She yelled trying to concentrate. He wasn't doing good at all. He was going to die if she didn't do something! Anything!
"Naruto...I used to hate you… you know." Sasuke's voice was so soft that they almost didn't hear him. She whimpered trying to focus better but her mind was going haywire. She didn't want to lose Sasuke. Sure he was an ass but he was her friend!
"Why, why did you? Why me? You should have just minded your own business!" Naruto yelled horrified, Sasuke shouldn't have saved him. He shouldn't be the one to die because of him.
"How should I know? My body just moved on it's own fool," Sasuke watched her face as he spoke, memorizing every last detail about her. At least she was safe. "Kira…" he called stopping her shaking hands from moving around him again. He could see the tears in her eyes, it crushed his heart seeing her like this. Reaching up he held her face with what little energy he had left. She was so soft. "I swore I wouldn't die until I killed him, my older brother. Thought the oath would save me but...But don't you dare die." He felt her hand clutch onto his.
Shooting towards the surface Kira gasped for breath water dripping down her face and front. "Why am I thinking about that now?" shaking her head she moved to get out of the water now feeling very cold and hungry. Wrapping a towel around her body she walked into the changing room catching Naruto at his locker.
"You just getting out too?" He asked her grinning to himself "How was it over there? Were there a lot of pretty girls?"
She couldn't help laughing with Naruto over something so ordinary as him asking about how pretty the girls were. "They were very pretty, Im very happy and surprised you didn't try to go over there in your girl form." Naruto sniggered shrugging his shoulders.
"Thought about it but Captain Yamato was watching me and Sai kept talking about my goods! How weird is that anyway?!" he yelled throwing his arm up. "Well you give the girls a laugh...were you the last one for the guys?"
Naruto nodded looking through his clothes for his underwear "Yeah Captain Yamato left first and then Sai left so it was nice being able to relax some without that weirdo. What about you? Is Sakura still in there?" He nodded his head to the girls door.
"No she left a little bit ago I've been thinking mostly about what's going to happen when we see Sasuke." Naruto frowned looking at her arm "The last time we saw him was that big fight…" Naruto nodded not needing to be reminded of what happened all those years ago. It was still fresh in his mind, the fight.
Walking behind a sliding door Kira and Naruto got changed on different sides of the room. Each now in their own shared but separate thought. "Naru...I can't stop thinking about how we last saw him." She whispered pulling the door aside staring at him.
He had finished a while ago. "I-I still haven't told Sakura what he said to me…" Naruto reached over grasping her left hand and looking over the marking. "What if he hasn't changed?" Naruto wasn't sure how she meant if he hasn't changed from wanting to kill Itachi, that he might like working with Orochimaru, or if he still really liked her. He wasn't sure but he gave her one of his signature smiles that meant something.
"Well…I'll just have to do something about that." They walked out side by side enjoying each other's presence. It was almost like old times. Though Naruto still felt guilty about what he and Sasuke did to her. He glanced up noticing her shaggy hair it was longer now than when he first saw her two weeks ago. "You growing your hair out again?"
Raising a hand to her hair Kira felt her wet locks and measured the length with her fingers. Cracking a small smile she let out a soft laugh "Not entirely sure, should I? I've gotten so used to having short hair that it feels normal to me."
Naruto looked her over once more "I don't know, I still see you with having your hair in a braid. Guess I'll have to get used to this. At least it's not poofy like Kakashi's." Snickering again she had to agree. It was more flat than poofy but she still enjoyed the look.
"What are you two laughing about?" Sakura grinned staring at the two "Kakashi's hair." The two friends said grinning at their other friend.
Sasuke sat leaning against the wall staring into space listening to Kabuto go on and on about something he should be learning. He couldn't seem to focus on anything anymore. It had been three years and he was no closer to killing his brother.
"You know, even though you haven't killed him yet, you still have me." Her voice filled his ears, glancing over he saw Kira sitting beside him hugging her knees. Her long gray hair pulled free from it's braid and flowed around her shoulders. She was dressed in an outfit similar to his own. He could clearly see his mark on her left hand and love in her ruby eyes. "I know you'll be able to eventually, you've gotten so strong these past few years." She gushed smiling brightly leaning closer to him.
Sasuke smirked to himself. "Are you even listening?" Kabuto demanded clearly annoyed with the teen.
"No. I'm going to bed." Kabuto groaned smacking his head watching the male walk off down the dim corridors to his room. "I can't believe he thinks he can tell you what to do." Sasuke smirked "Seriously! Who does he think he is telling my man what to do!" She let out a hmph sound crossing her arms over her chest annoyed at the male.
Sasuke chose to say nothing though the small smile on his lips wouldn't leave. In his room he watched her run over to his bed spinning around giving him a come hither look. Beckoning him closer with a finger movement. Sasuke followed in a trance watching her smirk seductively. As soon as they were about to kiss she disappeared. Vanished. The sudden disappearance caused the male to fall face first into his bed with a groan. This always happened. He knew she wasn't really there. She was long gone it killed him knowing they could never have a life together. It was all his fault. What he wouldn't give to be able to hold her in his arms, breathe in her scent, feel the warmth from her skin radiate onto him. To see her smile, hear her laugh. It was pure torture.
The visions of her came frequently through the three years he'd been gone. At first he thought it was guilt at having to discover her dead body, then as he grew older, so did she. He'd imagine her being alive and well training beside him as he grew stronger watching her become the woman he knew she'd be. The conversations they had helped Sasuke not feel so guilty. It wasn't his fault that she died. She had told him it wasn't. That it was Narutos. That if Naruto hasn't have gone after him then they wouldn't have had that fight. It was Naruto's fault. All of it.
"I'm not really gone Sasuke, you have me still. Isnt that what we always wanted? To be together forever?"
Sasuke let out a sigh watching her appear in front of him. He could almost feel her warm fingers run against his cheek "Of course it is but…"
"Then why are you going to give up on us when we exact our revenge on Itachi? Giving yourself to Orochimaru won't bring me back sweetie." Her soft voice drilled through his head. He knew she wouldn't want him to do that. But why did life matter if she was gone? Why should he live and she die? Nothing mattered anymore. "I love you Sasuke."
Just hearing those words sent his heart into a fluttering mess of course she loved him. Before the incident she told him she loved him. It made losing her all the more painful. "I will always love you Sasuke."
"Oh Kira...I love you too."
So I've been getting excited for Sasuke coming back into the story, but I wanted him to be considered not completely stable or completely there. I figure after going through a traumatic experience and not having the proper help Sasuke could start seeing visions and hallucinations of those around him causing him to become more unhinged. I wonder how Sasuke will react to seeing his old team, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!