Hello all sorry I've been a little late on updating lately. It is going to take a little longer from now on we are all caught up on the chapters we've written so if anyone has suggestions or things they particularly like/ dislike or want to see please let us know. As always there are pics on my co-writers pinterest page name Tsukiange. Enjoy!

Chapter 12

Lie's P.O.V.

I had been doing my best to opt out of the conversations that Shizuko had been trying to have with me. I practically called her useless even though the power of an angel is one of the strongest known she hasn't woken it yet and I used that against her. I tried not to regard her as a friend. I simply talked to her like an annoyance. Making up excuses to leave when she'd ask me what was wrong or just dismiss it as a "nothing." It was hard for each excuse prompted a disappointed, "oh ok." The little angel seemed to be losing a little more faith in me every time and that was the goal. I had just left the group with a big sigh today after Kakashi told us we were required to go to some chunin village bonding festival nonsense since I had finally been the last of the group to reluctantly agree on taking the exam. Huh, now I have to find a stupid dress for tonight.

I walked down the main plaza searching for a decent kimono shop only to almost run into someone as my thoughts carried me back to my father predicament.

I nearly bumped into the person who got pushed in front of me in the busier than usual Konoha streets.

I grabbed the person to prevent both of us from falling.

"Lie?"

The deep angsty voice of my raven-haired teammate chimed clear as day.

"You're not following me are you Uchiha?"

His annoyed face shone as we both rushed to the edge of the condensed plaza. Once we were out of anyone's elbow room he continued, "no I wasn't. I was looking for a yakata since I don't own one for this stupid festival. What's going on with you and Shizuko lately. Sewing discord before the chunin exams like that."

Good to see he's the same Sasuke I thought blindly eyeing his irritated expression that only got worse at my silence.

"Are you gonna tell me why the hell everyone has been acting so damn crazy since the mission. I even asked the idiot who only said you had lost your mind, killed a ton of Gato's men, then tried to attack Shizuko. I even asked Shizuko about the whole thing and she just replied that Naruto got it wrong and you'd never hurt your friends even though you haven't been acting like her friend. What the hell happened."

I looked away in silence walking along the street edges for a second before I asked the following Uchiha, "do you believe that if someone is evil. Some part of them will always be evil?"

Sasuke was looking intently at me when I turned to face him his wires narrowed, and he spoke. The forlorn tone of his voice no doubt reflected his dark past. "People choose to be good or evil. Good people don't choose evil, and evil people only choose to be good when it benefits them. It's as simple as that."

With that response I had answered the question I was struggling with. I wasn't an evil person who could choose to be good. I was an evil person who was only momentarily being good because it benefited my goals. I didn't belong here. I was fooling myself to think I was momentarily content. After the exams… I'll finally do what I came to do. I could finally

I turned from the Uchiha I had come to be comfortable around.

"HEY! We're not done here. You never told me why everyone's been acting so weird."

I gave a dark chuckle and paused still with my back turned to him, "because everyone is finally starting to question what role good and evil play in this world."

With that I walked away and continued my dress hunt. I didn't feel nearly as content as my voice sounded. In fact, I could feel a deep dread bubbling up in my stomach. I pushed it away and finally entered a shop called 'The Dark Side of Beauty' where I found a kimono.

I went back home for the first time in about 4 days. I opened the door to our little cottage to see Shizuko nose deep in one of her scrolls. She looked up with surprise on her face, "Lie you're here?"

I let out an amused chuckle, "yeah angel… I live here remember."

She stood up fast from her scrolls. Her shocked face turning into that of deep sadness and betrayal, "stop calling me angel and little angel. You're not saying it as a friend anymore it's a cop out for you to not recognize me as your friend. I get it if you want space. I even didn't say anything to you blowing off all of my attempts to reach out to you, but don't give your halfhearted taunts to me. I'm not a child."

I was shocked. Never has Shizuko yelled at me nor seemed to understand that my interactions with her were becoming more brutal. At least I didn't think she did until now. I sighed and held up my hands, "yeah, yeah, you're right. I'll stop calling you angel. Now I'm going to get ready for this damn festival since Kakashi thinks it's funny to tell us about it the morning of. Ass."

I walked in my room with a smile across my face. Shizuko stood shocked. Probably because I talked to her for once. I was even somewhat civil. I might as well play nicely until after the exams since my mind was made up. Plus, I don't really want to hurt Shizuko any more than I already have.

I went to my room and began dressing for the festival. I pinned my long hair half up and removed my blindfold since night had fallen. I needed to get used to seeing in the light again anyway. I shredded my normal hoodie, chained pants and boots and replaced it with a red under dress that had a halter top and an asymmetrical bottom and put the outer robe over to of it. The base color was black, but it was all lined with thick silver with grey moons decorating it. The obi was blood red and the finishing sash was black. I traded my boots for red platform sandals. Lastly, I threw a red rose in my hair and painted my lips red. I looked in the mirror not really recognizing myself. It's not like I did anymore anyway.

I walked out of my room and walked into the living room. Shizuko waited in the living room in her pretty red priestess kimono with a giant bow in the front on her waist.

"Lie, you're not wearing your blindfold?"

I shrugged, "Thought I'd try to have my eyes adjust a little since it's already dark out. You look nice. Ready to go?"

"Does it really look ok?" She inquired staring at herself in the full-size mirror that I never realized we had in the living room. "It reminded me of the dress the maidens used to wear at the Ariquel festival."

I looked down with a puzzled face, but wiped my expression away, "Yeah, yeah, yeah… are you ready or not? Personally, I'm ready to get this mess of a night over with."

"Yeah let's go," She said rather chipper. "Sasuke won't be able to keep his eyes off you. You know?"

This took me by surprise. I stopped in my tracks. The warm breeze of the summer air pushed against my kimono. Why should I care what effect I had on Sasuke. What even made Shizuko say that. "I'm sure you're imagining things."

Her eyebrows furrowed, and a somewhat serious face graced her features, "Lie… You can't be serious? Sasuke obviously has a thing for you. How have you not seen that by now? He is relentless in his teasing and asking about you lately. The fact that you're ignoring practically everyone including him is driving him crazy."

I continued walking considering what I could remember of Sasuke's actions lately. I guess he did seem more willing to strike conversation with me, but I didn't even really have time to think about him… I couldn't. I had made my resolve and he wasn't a part of my plans. I sighed trying to push him away from my mind, hoping that Shizuko was just being her normal romantic self. So, I changed the subject, "How about you and Naruto huh? What's that situation about?"

A small blush crossed her face followed by a perplexed look. "I think Naruto is still kinda obsessed with Sakura even though she doesn't care about him."

"No need to worry little ang- Shizuko. Just wait until he sees you in that yukata," I corrected myself crossing my arms into my sleeves.

She smiled briefly but it was fast to fall, "why are you being nice to me? Out of nowhere after all this time?"

It was easy to see that she'd been wanting to ask that question since I came home. I could hear her breath choking up as if she were afraid to ask. That I might realize and start acting cold again.

I sighed and put my arms behind my head as we continued onward, "I realized that I just needed to be me. Before you get all choked up though you should know that isn't the same as who I was before all this. I was suppressing my true nature before. You should know what it means to be who I really am." I caught her eyes as we continued, "it may mean that we won't always be on the same side. You should prepare yourself for that."

She was silent for the rest of the walk and I was glad for it. The truth wasn't easy, but it was the truth. We were natural enemies, her and I. Light and dark can only coincide for a certain time, and our time seemed lesser now. I was getting nowhere fast with my late-night searches for the information I sought and the chunin exams where almost here. I got snapped out of my thoughts however by the two boys I'd come to know standing outside the festival gates. Arguing with each other but quickly becoming quiet as they saw us coming their way.

Naruto looked slightly less annoying trading his orange jumpsuit for a bright orange kimono that was opened at the front showing off some of his muscles. It was a good look for the blob. He finally didn't look like a brat. What caught my eye though was my tallest raven-haired teammate. In a very samurai looking yukata with the Uchiha symbol on either side of the shirt opening. Also going down about midway to his chest. His somber expressing gazing our way, holding my stare. I thought back on what Shizuko had told me my face heating up at the realization that she might be right. What was this reaction? Why should I care what Sasuke thought of me?"

"You look great Shizuko-Chan… Lie."

"You too Naruto- kun your kimono suits you," Shizuko blushed.

"Thanks, you look nice. Formal wear works for you," I replied looking at Naruto and trying a little too hard to avoid Sasuke's unwavering eyes.

"Sasuke you look handsome as well. Is that a ceremonial yukata for the Uchiha?"

We all started walking along the festival streets, "not really, they're mostly worn in strength displays."

Shizuko nodded and looked towards Naruto shyly, "Wanna go play some games Naruto-kun?"

"Do I?" He busted out in an ambiguous excitement and grabbed her hand as he ran to the closest game stand.

"She's too good for that idiot," Sasuke sighed openly watching them leave.

"I didn't realize you two had become close?" I said raising an eyebrow as Sasuke's lips formed a thin smirk.

"Are you jealous Lie?" He teased as we walked slowly along the festival path passing the other village genin who didn't particularly look thrilled or impressed by the festival.

"No, not really. Surprisingly enough I believe you two have a decent amount in common," I said after a bit when I let my mind wonder. We had made it to the center of the festival when two very familiar females came in our direction. Sakura Haruno sporting a long yellow and green kimono and Ino Yamanaka with her pink and purple one.

"Sasuke!" The two nearly shrieked in tandem as they ran up to his side. I quickly moved out of their paths as they rushed my teammate throwing out compliments on his yakata and fishing for compliments back. He gave me a helpless face, but I only chucked and turned my back to him not interested in engaging in the two fangirls who would only give me a headache. Unfortunately, my amused laughing turned to a very stone like sober face when I saw the man I was engaged to lounging on a bench a few yards away staring at me with an amused look on his face and a dark gleam in his eyes. He rose in his black yukata that was opened too his mid chest. The yukata was decorated with purple flowers and stars. His black hair was longer than it had been the last time she'd seen him, and he had grown extremely tall. He walked gracefully in my direction, never breaking eye contact. I couldn't help myself. I had to admit I was drawn to him. Somehow instinctively enjoying his seductive looks. He knelt and kissed my hand and in a deep voice he said almost in a whisper, "the color of blood has never complimented anyone as it does you."

Finally, I pulled myself from my unnatural attraction snatching my hand quickly from his grasp and hissing, "Akumu what the hell do you think you're doing here?"

He chuckled as he rose but kept a safe distance from me while he explained, "you know very well that YOU my love, are the reason we are here."

"Nanusuki and Ezrah are here too?" I asked looking around, barely, with suspicious eyes." This time Akumu was bold enough to grab my chin and hand and drag me out to the dance floor, "don't worry love, you know I'd never let them hurt you. They understand that taking whatever revenge that they may feel against you would be pointless."

Before I could have a chance to tell Akumu there was no way in hell I was dancing with him tonight a very mad looking Sasuke stalked over and gently placed his hand on one of my shoulders, "How about a dance?" It looked like Sasuke was even uncomfortable with the words coming out of his mouth, but he held me gently still as he turned a stone face towards Akumu with sarcastic manners, "if you don't have a problem with me stealing her from you."

Akumu sized up Sasuke and smirked, "Oh you'll have to try harder than that to steal her from me. However, have your fun. Lie I'll see you at the exams of course." With that said he began to walk away. His figure slowly faded only to disappear completely into the surrounding night.

"Thanks, I guess that conversation was getting boring anyway," I said not really bothering to look in Sasuke's direction and went to walk away when his hand grabbed mine and twirled me back into him.

"I was serious about that dance," he said in a husky voice with narrowed eyes. I gulped as a shiver ran down my spine. Stupid Shizuko, ever since she told me that Sasuke likes me I've been noticing things I hadn't before. His body pressed against mine as his hand moved from my wrist to intertwine his fingers in my own. His hands were rough, but I was aware of every inch of my skin that touched his own. I was aware of my head resting sideways on his shoulder facing his neck finally realizing how much taller he was than me. I felt like I was shaking. I felt like I was nervous for the first time in my life.

"You look beautiful tonight. I'm glad you didn't wear your blindfold," Sasuke said not really looking at me. Maybe he was nervous. I stared at his angry fangirls and saw Naruto and Shizuko coming into view going towards Sakura and Sasuke's other little fangirls and turned my head away hoping that these new things I was noticing about him didn't make me like them… No! I wasn't like those annoying inferior leaf village kunoichi. I was a Kuriyama. I don't know why I keep forgetting that.

Sasuke must have noticed my sudden tension and change in body language because he put a little distance between us, so I could look up into his eyes, "Who was that man Lie?"

There was something in his tone. Worry mixed with something hurtful in his eyes. I sighed but answered his question looking him dead in the eyes not swaying anymore, "His name is Akumu, Sasuke. Do you remember when you overheard me talking to Kakashi in the mist village while we were training chakra control? He is my fiancé."

Sasuke looked shocked as he replied with a quiet confused tone, "I honestly thought you were joking about that."

I grabbed his wrist leading him out of the dance section of the festival and down a dirt trail, only just visible between trees until we got far enough back to reach a tiny clearing. The clearing was filled with fireflies dancing above a small pond. With a tree in the middle.

"I didn't know there was a place this beautiful in Konoha," Sasuke said in awe but it didn't last long as he remembered what I had previously said and with neutral eyes asked, "Do you love him? That man your engaged to. He looks so much older than you."

I took a deep breath and sat by the pond taking off my shoes and putting my feet in the water. Sasuke sat close listening for a response.

"No Sasuke I don't love Akumu. He is three years older than me and I hardly know him. My clan's customs are different than yours Sasuke. People get engaged in my clan when there is a link in spirits. Mine is linked to Akumu's…" I said looking down into the water pushing the feeling of dread back from my stomach. My muscles ache and my head were starting to spin. It was forbidden to tell outsiders of the clan's culture, but it didn't matter to me. There were only four left in the clan and I was one of those four. The world didn't know that though. It didn't hurt to tell him my secrets. What hurt was his confused eyes taking in my form. It hurt that at this moment I cared how he looked at me. What he thought about me.

"How much do you know of my clan Sasuke?"

"I know the Kawakami clan doesn't have arranged marriages."

"Ha-ha ok how much do you know about my real clan then. How much do you know about the Kuriyamas?"

Sasuke looked into my eyes scanning and then sighing loudly. "I hardly know anything except for what I've heard from stories. There a clan of mercenaries said to ally themselves with demons. What do you mean you're one of them? Why have we been lied to this whole time about it?"

It was my turn to sigh as I looked away from him and laid on my back looking up at the sky. "My village wasn't exactly allies with Konoha Sasuke. There is much people fear about us and rightfully so," I sat up and looked him dead in the eye. "The thing that happened that no one would talk about at the mist village Sasuke. It was me. The demon I'm contracted with took over and I slaughtered most of Gato's men with its power. Naruto that idiot had no idea what was going on and just thought I lost my mind. Technically I did lose it… If not my mind, then my consciousness. I even tried to kill Shizuko."

At that last part I wavered a little but still kept eye contact until Sasuke looked down taking a moment of silence to absorb the information I just gave him. Then he looked up at me again. "What made you that way?"

I stood up in a rush and turned away. At the abruptness Sasuke stood as well. I had thought of this for a while but the thought of saying it made me embarrassed because it didn't make any sense. The more I struggled to put it into words the more irritated I got until I just blurted it still not facing Sasuke, "It's when I thought you died."

I stood turned away from him still but only for about a minute until I could no longer take the silence. I turned. I at least needed to see the expression on his face but instead met a pair of lips. The next thing I knew Sasuke's arms were around me and I was arching my neck up and to the left to get a better angle. I didn't care about what his face may have looked like anymore. I couldn't even think about it. I couldn't think about anything.

I responded to the sensation putting my arms up to rest on his chest with my fingers just feeling the opening in his Yukata. My lips danced with his opening and closing in harmony. That was until I felt a dangerous chill in the air and pushed away from a very shocked Sasuke.

I stared at his shocked face for second, "We need to get going. That… I…. I shouldn't have done that I'm sorry. Let me walk you home."

I tried to go back to the path, but he caught my wrist with a pained expression and a husky voice, "Lie I…"

"Stop Sasuke I'm engaged. I shouldn't have kissed back but we should really leave now," I said irritated more at myself than him.

"I can walk home alone."

It was my turn to grab Sasuke's wrist. He was handsome even in his upset face, "yeah, yeah, I know you can but you're not going to because I'm seeing you home. There are dangerous people lurking tonight."

He followed me back down the path towards the center of the festival back towards the entrance but stopped before I could drag him out.

"I'm not afraid of that man. Your fiancé. You know that right. Why do you like him?"

I got irritated. I hate having to explain myself and I hate myself more for letting him in. I ignored his question.

"Be safe on your way home tonight Sasuke. The creatures of the night are extra restless."

With that I made my way home. The night had grown a little colder, and I had no doubt in my mind that I wouldn't get a minute of sleep tonight. Luckily, I had a lot to think about. For when I arrived at our little cottage Kakashi was there waiting.

"Oh, good you came home first. We need to talk about the chunin exams…"