Chapter 18

Akari's view of the front gate was obscured by the tears in her eyes. No matter how often she wiped them away more would appear. She couldn't help it. The thought of Sasuke and Itachi meeting frightened her to no end. What if she lost one of them today? It hurt so much to think about it that the pain was unbearable. She pressed her knees closer to her chest to try to ease it. Her kunai lay motionless at her feet. She couldn't bring herself to twirl it anymore.

"Akari?"

She looked behind her to find Hinata standing there. She was staring at her unsure of whether to approach. Akari wiped yet another tear and stood.

"Hey Hinata. Whats up?"

"Kuranai sensei sent me to get you. She said he will be arriving shortly though she didn't say who."

Akari thanked the girl and together they made their way to the front gate. Hinata watched her out of the corner of her eye. She clearly knew something was wrong but Akari didn't want to talk about it. Instead she brought up a different subject.

"Did you get to say bye to Naruto?"

"Oh. Yes I did. He…he stopped by my house before leaving."

Hinata was blushing. This brought a small smile to Akari's lips. She was glad things were going well for her friend. The Hyuuga was such a kind person she deserved happiness.

"Kuranai said to wait at the gate. I'd go with you but I have a sparring match with Neji."

"That's okay. Thanks for coming to get me and tell Neji I said hi."

Akari waved at Hinata as they parted ways. She liked the fact that the Hyuugas were getting along. It meant she had less to worry about. This was good because the Uchihas had her worried enough as it is.

She finally made it to the gate. The guys keeping an eye on it nodded in her direction as she approached. She waved then positioned herself at the entrance to wait.

It wasn't long before something green caught her eye. The figure of Might Gai was quickly approaching. He carried someone on his back. Akari ran out to meet him and stifled a gasp as she saw an unconscious Sasuke.

"He's alive. We need to get him to the hospital." The older man told her.

She nodded and led the way. Once they arrived he was quickly admitted and the medical ninja began to work on him. Akari knew it wouldn't help. He was in the same state as Kakashi. Sasuke had confronted his brother and Itachi had used his Tsukuyomi. The idea sickened her. How could he have done this to his own brother?

In the end he was left in a room to wait until Master Jiraiya returned. Gai sensei had informed her that the old sage was searching for the new Hokage. A woman with amazing medical ninjutsu. He assured her he could help. Then he left her alone with Sasuke.

She waited for the door to close before going to his side. Without thinking she climbed into the bed with him and lay beside him. She placed her head on his shoulder and cried.

"Why? Why did you have to go after him?" She sobbed.

She pressed herself closer and placed a hand on his chest. His heart beat soothed her. So many things were on her mind. What was Itachi thinking! What he did must have been torture for Sasuke. The pain he must have felt. She didn't think she could take much more of this. Keeping Itachi's secret was becoming too much for her.

"Sasuke." She whispered. "I need to tell you…"

"Which room?!" A voice yelled from outside.

Quickly she detached herself from the bed and stood. Moments later Sakura barged into the room in a panic. She was about to run to Sasukes side before she noticed Akari. She stopped dead in her tracks and stared.

"What are you doing here?" She mumbled.

"I came to see Lee and heard Sasuke was here. Thought I'd see how he was doing." She lied.

"Oh. How does he look?"

Sakura approached the bed and placed a hand on Sasuke's cheek. Akari's hand twitched to smack it away. The thought shocked her. She had never felt this way before! But seeing the way the pink haired girl stared down at the boy made her chest ache. She needed to leave.

"They're waiting for Naruto to bring someone to the village. She can heal him." She whispered.

"So he'll be ok. Thank god."

Sakura pulled up a chair and sat close to Sasuke. She picked up his hand and held it between hers. Again Akari's hand twitched. She couldn't stand it anymore.

"I'm going to check on Lee. Keep a good eye on him ok."

The girl nodded and Akari left the room. She closed the door behind her and leaned back on it. She could hear Sakura whispering to Sasuke inside. She knew what she was feeling but she couldn't believe it. Sasuke didn't belong to her so why? Why did she feel like going back in and forcing Sakura out? She walked away from the door and went to find Lee.

She didn't make it far before she stopped. There she stood in the middle of the hallway with her fists clenched at her side. She knew the answer to these questions. She was jealous. She deeply cared for
Sasuke and wanted to be the one at his side. So she had joined the Sasuke fan club. Akari gave small chuckle.

Wiping away a tear she had a medical ninja lead her to Lee. The boy didn't look to good. Yet he smiled when he saw her. He was certain the woman who would arrive soon could heal him. Akari kept him company most of the day and listened to him tell her of all the training he would do once he was better. She hoped whoever this woman was could help her friends.

It was like this the next few days. She would bring him flowers and sit by his side. A couple of times Neji or Tenten would join her. Or if not them then it was her siblings. They made sure their friend never felt lonely. She took this time to notice the change in Neji. Naruto had truly influenced him. Sure he still acted slightly superior but not as much as before. He would take a seat beside her and they'd talk of trivial things. It was nice. Sometimes he would walk her home. She would say goodbye to him at her gate with the promise to see him again the next day.

Akari would then go inside and wait a few hours. She would be returning to the hospital. Though she enjoyed keeping Lee company a part of her always wanted to go to Sasuke. She never did. At least not during the day. This was because Sakura never left his side. She would stay in the room with him until late in the evening. Akari couldn't bear to be in the same room just yet so instead she'd visit late at night.

Every night she would leave her house and make her way to the hospital. She would then go through his window and let herself in. Akari would huddle close to him and talk to him. She would tell him how her day was. What she had done and who she had seen. She would tell him that he would get better. That everything was going to be ok. She told him everything but the truth.

After Sakura interrupted her, she couldn't bring herself to try again. Where would she begin? She also wanted to see Itachi before she said anything. She wanted to hear an explanation for what he had done. Hopefully it would be a good one.

Akari tended to stay with Sasuke the whole night. She would sleep beside him in total comfort. Never had she slept so well. Then she would wake before dawn and exit through the window. It became routine. Visit Lee in the mornings and seeing Sasuke at night.

One day something she wasn't expecting happened. Things went as normal except Neji was quiet most the day. He kept glancing at Akari making her believe something was up. When the time came to leave he walked her out like usual. Only when they neared her house did he stop. She looked at him confused.

"Akari, I would like to think that I have changed for the better. I no longer feel so much hate. This has got me thinking and I realized something."

Without warning he leaned in and kissed her lightly on the lips. She was so shocked that she didn't move an inch. Neji pulled back and stared at her.

"I see. Maybe you don't feel the same." He seemed hurt.

"I…I don't know…I'm sorry you just caught me off guard." She stammered.

"Well I should go. Let me know if you change your mind."

He walked away from her. She watched him go. Numbly she went home. Once inside she locked herself in her room and sat on her bed. What was she to do now! Neji was a very close friend but she didn't see him as anything more. Why didn't she notice how he felt? And had she given him some reason to believe she felt the same?

Once the time came she left her house. Quietly she opened Sasuke's window and leapt inside. She stared at him for a moment. There was no way a she could feel that way for Neji. Not while Sasuke was around. Though a part of her wished it was Neji she cared for. That way she wouldn't feel like she was betraying Sakura every time she saw her.

With a deep sigh she joined Sasuke on the bed. Frankly she blamed Itachi for this. If he hadn't brought his brother along all those years ago she would've never gotten to know him. Not to mention the fact that he wants the two of them to rebuild the Uchiha Clan! How exactly were the two of them supposed to…Akari blushed scarlet and picked herself off the bed in haste. Surely he didn't mean…no not that!

Akari went to the window ledge and pulled herself up. She stared out at the sleeping village. She could watch over Sasuke just fine from over here. Biting her lip she pulled out her kunai. Not wanting to think about the future she started her usual conversation with the unconscious boy.

"Today was slightly different. Neji kissed me." She muttered.

She looked over at Sasuke but there was no change. There never was. Leaning her head back she continued.

"I don't know how I feel about it. It was strange, yet comforting. Hopefully things don't get weird between us."

Not long after Akari nodded off. She was so tired she slept late.

"Sasuke! Hes back! Naruto found her! She can heal…."

Akari nearly fell of the ledge. Sakura had barged in so quickly she didn't have time to react. Standing she tried to compose herself.

"Sakura hey I…"

"How long have you been here?" The girl asked.

"Um…I couldn't sleep so…" She stuttered.

"Oh. Well Naruto and Master Jiraiya should be arriving soon. The woman is with them."

"That's great! I'll go tell Lee!"

Akari made her way to the door but Sakura stood in the way.

"I know you feel the same way I do. You don't have to hide it from me." Sakura whispered.

"I don't…I'm sorry. I never meant for it to happen." Akari told her.

"It's okay. You can't help these things. You should go to Lee. It shouldn't be long."

"Right. I'll see you later then."

The pink hair girl nodded before taking her spot in the chair. Akari stared at her for moment before leaving the room. She could tell Sakura was upset but not enough to hate her. At least that's what she hoped. Once she made it to Lee's room she found that he already heard the news. Gai sensei was with him along with his squad. Neji noticed her in the doorway but he quickly looked away. Slightly hurt she chose to leave.

As she walked outside a shadow fell over her. She looked up to see a black raven circling above her. As soon as she noticed it, it flew away.

"It's about time you showed yourself." She muttered.

Hands in her pockets she followed the bird in the direction of the Cliff.