Chapter 14

Thanks once more for everyone reading and supporting me! Go get a chocolate bar, you earned it.

I could already tell that the journey home was going to seem impossibly long. Maybe it's because every step for me is a battle. I can't slow my pace because if I do I'll drop behind Saskue and Naruto. I couldn't seem to even stomach that though so I shoved it into a hard little ball and put it in the very back of my mind in the darkest corner. It feels like if Naruto gets out of my touch he'll slip away. So I pushed for every step matching Saskue's unforgiving pace and keeping one hand on Naruto.

I thought I was doing an alright job disguising my weariness but Shickamaru's gaze caught my own and I could read his worry there. He didn't say a word though, just walked beside me, watching me carefully in case I faltered. Determined not to stop and appear weak, I took extra care to ensure each step was sturdy and sure.

After what feels like an eternity Kiba finally said, "Saskue, we should stop. Red's dead on her feet and you know she won't say so." I shot him a venomous look, which he ignored.

Saskue looks over his shoulder at me. I really must look as bad as Kiba says, because he lifted his eyebrows at the sight of me. "Why didn't you ask for help?"

Strangely, my words are hard to manage. "He…he needs me. He needs to…to get home."

"Sit down." Saskue says roughly.

I shake my head stubbornly.

"We're not going to reach the village tonight, even if we did walk all night. Just sit down and for once, try not to be so stupid."

"You're stupid." I fire back tiredly. Before he can come up with a comeback, my legs give out and I land on the ground. Saskue must have felt my rising panic because he laid Naruto down next to me. I immediately try and gather him up in my arms, despite our size difference. Saskue sighs loudly, and helps arrange things so I can cradle Naruto's head and shoulders in my arms comfortably. I inspect his face, the colour is slowly coming back, but his skin is still too cold for my liking. I look up to see Shickamaru standing at my side, looking down at me. I don't have the energy to feel upset about the fact that he's clearly assigned himself to watch over me. "Can you get me a blanket for him, please?"

He nods and leaves, but reappears quickly with the requested blanket. He even helps me wrap our invalid in it.

"What are you going to do tonight? You can't stay up and watch over him like this." Shickamaru questions me, and I know he's trying to get me to see sense, bless him.

"I'll sleep." I lie. "Why have you been watching me?" I quickly change the subject to cover over my lie.

He sighs, clearly annoyed. "If you're not careful, you're gonna end up like him." He looks at Naruto still cradled in my arms. "You need to sleep. I'll watch him for you."

I hold Naruto tighter. "Not yet. I'm going to take first watch." I can see him gearing up for an argument. Better to cut him off quickly. "I'll rest better if I sleep uninterrupted, and watches won't be as long now that we have Sakura with us."

"You know they won't let you." He's got a point, damn him.

"I'll convince them."

Later, he helps me carry Naruto to the fire. Everyone looks as tired as I feel. Sakura offers to take Naruto so I can have a break, but I turn her down quickly. I trust Shickamaru; I don't even know this girl. Besides, I reason to myself, he needs me. I hold his hand while he continues to sleep, plotting ways to get my own way. I know that Saskue and Shickamaru have no intentions of letting me take any watch tonight. I glance at Kiba, remembering that he was the one who stopped Saskue in the first place. I wager he'll take their side over mine. I look at Saskue, who's wearily leaning against a tree. He looks really tired and beat up. I should do something nice for him. I begin to sing the lullaby out loud. My voice is strong and clear despite how weak I really feel. I notice all their eyes begin to get heavy, so I gift them with another singing of my favorite song, and again once more until they're all sleeping soundly. I gently cover each of them with a warm blanket and wish them each a goodnight whispered quietly in their ears.

I sit back down by Naruto again when my work is done, noticing that his colour has seemed to improve since I started singing. "Did you like that?" I ask him. "Do you want to hear me sing? I'll sing all night if it will take away the pain. As long as you promise me you'll wake up soon." I take his quiet breathing to be consent to my conditions, and I begin to sing softly again. I sing until my voice gives out, and then I hum until day breaks. Kiba's the first one awake.

"Oh man, did you stay up all night?" He asks groggily.

"I'm fine." My voice is raspy and weak.

"Red, you crazy doll, the others are gonna be mega pissed. Why did you do that?"

I open my mouth to reply, but he cuts me off. "Don't say 'cause he needs me.' How's he gonna feel when he wakes up and you're dead from exhaustion? Or are you under the impression he's into suicidal girls now?"

Surprisingly, I have the energy to blush as the rest of the gang starts to stir.

Sakura is the first to wake up fully. "Did she stay up all night?" She asks Kiba.

"Yup."

She gives me a strange look as Shickamaru and Saskue slowly realise that I tricked them and got my own way.

"God damn it, Red." Shickamaru complains.

Saskue just gives me a sullen stare.

I sigh, wincing. Attempting to gather my meager strength, I stand on shaky legs, only to fall again. I try and muffle my cry of pain.

"She's as stubborn as Naruto." Sakura says incredulously.

I give her the best dirty look that I can manage. "Kiba," Saskue calls. "You carry Naruto today. Sakura and Shickamaru, pack up camp." He ignores me as the others jump to obey him. Who died and made him king, I think bitterly, fighting to stay awake. When Kiba scoops Naruto up, I scramble to my feet again, using Kiba to hold my balance. How the hell am I going to manage one step, let alone hundreds?

I feel arms around me and realise I'm being picked up, but I can't fight it. I look up to see a very angry Uchiha looking down. "No," I whisper weakly, trying to struggle.

"Red, please." He sounds pained. "Just sleep, okay? Sakura will keep an eye on him."

"No!" I demand louder, wriggling harder.

"I'll watch him." Shickamaru volunteers quickly. He knows I don't trust her. He must be pretty worried about me to volunteer to do extra work.

"Red, I'm begging you, alright? Will you please stop?" Saskue's voices buzzes urgently in my ear. "I won't let Sakura touch him. If anything changes I'll wake you myself. Just sleep for a little while okay?"

I must be really tired, Saskue Uchiha begging to take care of someone? Shickamaru Nara is volunteering to do extra work? I must be really far gone; maybe I should rest, just for a minute before the world gets really crazy. "Shickamaru," I call weakly.

"What?" He asks, wary of my tricks.

'You watch him." I mumble sleepily before my body gives up the fight.

When I wake again, it is a new morning. I try and blink my confusion away. Did all that really happen? Is Twin dead? Did I really meet my mother? Did I really treat everyone so badly to get my own way? I feel a little ashamed and glance to my right, to see Naruto sleeping peacefully and snoring his head off. I notice his colour is back to normal.

"You look better."

"I feel better, thanks to you." I look over at Saskue, who's actually smiling this morning. I feel my cheeks redden. "I'm sorry about the way I acted. How stupid of me. If it wasn't for you guys, I'd be dead a million times over."

He shrugs good naturedly. "Looks like Naruto is going to wake up soon. I'm getting really tired of listening to his chain saw impression."

I laugh softly along with him, feeling grateful and loved. I reach out and grab his hand, squeezing softly. "Thank you."

As I'm by the stream, washing some things, I hear footsteps behind me followed by an annoying voice. "You're crazy, you know that?"

I don't bother to look at her as I reply. "Thanks to my craziness, you're on your way home."

She ignores that. "I don't know how you can even stand Naruto, let alone like him as much as you do. He's so weird, and stupid, and annoying."

My hands freeze under the water.

"When he gets mad, he goes crazy. He'll probably just end up killing you anyway. Serves you right, that's what I say."

I fight for calm, swallowing back my bitter anger. "He'd never hurt me, or any of us. You know that better than I do. Or, at least you should."

She snorts. "Well it's probably a match made in heaven. You're just as stupid as he is. I don't see what Saskue see's in you. I've been trying to get him to notice me for years, and you just waltz on by, and he's carrying you, and worrying about you, and actually talking and laughing with you. I wish you'd never come to save me, you should have stayed out of it. Or better yet, you should have never come to MY village. That freak was chasing you anyway. You and your stupid and ugly red hair."

The rage burns under my skin and chokes my throat. Using all my will power, I manage not to hit her as I turn to face her and look at the little self satisfied look on her face. "You and that Ino girl are too idiotic for words." I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself, and fail. "You foolish little girl, I risked everything for you." I show her my scar. "Do you see what those people did to me? I was only five. Barely a child, when they took me and marked me as their own, and christened me with my own screams of pain. LOOK AT IT." I grab her arm and force her to face me, as she tries to turn away. "Take a long, hard look, Sakura. Because you were almost given a similar mark, they would have made you my sister, given you a twin scar to match my own. What they did to me, they were planning to do to you. I was willing to go back to them, so that you could go home. I was ready to give my life for yours." I squeeze her arm harder as she tries to twist out of my grasp. I squeeze hard enough to leave her a bruise. "I was going to go alone to get you because I didn't want anyone to get hurt. Naruto refused to let me face those monsters alone. He almost died, saving the both of us. How are you so stupid and blind?" I shake her hard. "And you want to insult us both, and why? Because Saskue can actually speak to me decently now and then? You want to anger me for your petty jealously. You claim to love him, but why? For his looks? You shallow little whelp of a bitch. No wonder he can't stand you." I'm shaking with anger at this point. I throw her back from me, hard. Feel a little bit of satisfaction as she falls. "Remember this, next time, while you're sobbing behind me too scared to move because the demons are creeping closer. I won't help you. I'll stand aside." I stomp by her, laughing coldly.

"What's wrong?" Shickamaru asks, watching my hands shake as I try and change Naruto's bandages.

"Sakura's jealous, so she figured she could teach me a lesson and make fun of my hair."

"Girls," Shickamaru mutters. "How troublesome."

It's Shickamaru's turn to carry Naruto, so I stick close by him as we travel. Kiba stands on my other side, and I spend the time laughing at their jokes, exchanging insults, and trying to guess who my mysterious brother is. Kiba seems to take great joy in insisting that it must be Rock Lee.

About mid-afternoon, we stop for a break. I sit in the sun, holding Naruto's hand which is already completely healed, listening to the natural sounds around me. I close my eyes, letting the peaceful sounds wash over me, when I feel his hand twitch. My eyes fly open and start searching his face. I can see his eye lids flutter strongly and finally, open. My heart soars as for the first time in what feels like a lifetime, I see my favorite shade of blue.

I shriek with joy and throw my arms around his neck. "I thought you were going to die!" I sob. "You throw yourself into that poisonous dagger like that, you fool. You loveable, stupid fool." I burry my face into his arm neck, breathing him in.

He snickers and runs his hand through my long hair. "I should get injured more often if this is what I get to wake up to."

I wipe my eyes, and punch him in the ribs.

"Naruto! You're awake!" Sakura cries from behind me. She runs over and sits on his other side while I stare daggers at her. She grabs his hand and holds it to her heart. "I'm so happy you're awake! Stay here, I'll go get you something to eat, you must be starving." She glances at me, and blushes. "Uh, Red. I thought about what you said, and I'm really sorry. You were right to get so angry with me." Her apology takes me off guard, and I just stare at her before she bounds off, letting the others know that Naruto is awake and well.

"What's that about?"

"She was upset that Saskue likes me more than her. She…said some things to me, and I said some things back." I say as way of explanation.

"Man, I feel good!" He says stretching. "You want to race?"

"You just woke up, why don't you take it easy?" I warn.

"I can tell it's been boring since I've been out." A mischievous light glints in his eyes. "I got a funny idea, listen up." He whispers in my ear, while I giggle at his evil scheme, relieved everything seems to be normal again.

"Shicky!" I call, waving my hand and running over to where he's standing, looking for a place to nap.

"What?" He says lazily.

"Thank you for taking care of Naruto and for taking care of me." I smile sweetly at him.

He just grins and shrugs at me. "Does that mean I can have a nap now, and you'll carry me around?"

I can see Naruto sneaking up behind him, kunai knife in hand. I leap forward and embrace Shickamaru, pinning his arms to his sides and also embarrassing him. "RED, HEY, CUT THAT OUT." He says, stepping back, cheeks flaming.

Naruto ghosts up, ever so carefully, and delicately slices Shickamaru's pony tail holder, spilling all that black hair over his eyes.

When his vision is blocked, I let go and dance away, staying quiet while Naruto laughs loudly. Shickamaru whirls swiftly towards to sound of laughter. "Shadow possession jitsu!" Poor Naruto doesn't realise until too late that he's captured.

While Shickamaru's back is facing me, I creep up behind and start to gather all his hair back, surprised at how thick it is. He flinches from my deft fingers. "Oh calm down and I'll show you something funny." I say as I finish tying all his hair back the way it was.

"Like what?" He grouches at me.

"Do that silly pose." I command.

While grumbling, he lifts both his arms, placing the back of his wrists against his head, while Naruto of course, follows suit. "No fair!" Naruto calls. "You were supposed to be on my side."

I slowly slink towards Naruto, grinning evilly. "Hey! Stay away!" Naruto cries as he tries to struggle.

Ignoring him, I tickle him until his hysteric laughs are joined by Shickamaru's snickers. When the tears stream down Naruto's cheeks, I leap back and watch as Shickamaru's shadow melts away from Naruto…and attaches its self to mine. "Wh-what? No!"

Naruto is now at Shickamaru's side, whispering into his ear. I watch helplessly as a sly grin creeps across Shickamaru's face. Once again, he strikes the same pose and I feel the involuntary movement in my muscles as I copy him. "C'mon, let me go." I plead.

"No way." Shickamaru laughs.

Now it's Naruto's turn to slink towards me, with an evil grin. "No! Shickamaru, please!" I squeal, spotting Saskue approaching us, I try a different angle. "Saskue, rescue me!"

He stops coming near and sticks his hands in his pockets. "What's going on?"

"We're gonna give Red a taste of her own medicine." Naruto explains.

Saskue cocks his head to the side. "What are you going to do to her?"

"Tickle her," Shickamaru says.

Saskue tries to hide a wicked smile as he rushes to my side. Leaning towards my face, he asks, "Why should I help you?"
"Because, you're super strong, and you could kick my butt any day, you're the greatest ninja in the whole wide world and I'll owe you a super favour?" I try desperately, plastering a huge smile on my face.

"Don't listen to her!" Shickamaru cuts in. "Remember she tricked us the other night? How much trouble she caused us? She almost killed herself trying to stay awake for that bone head." He nods at Naruto.

"And there was that time she punched you in the face." Naruto adds helpfully.

"Let's get her."

They tickle me until Kiba hears my call for help and jumps on Shickamaru's back, breaking his concentration and jitsu. Saskue and Naruto take one look at me, and one look at each other, and take off in opposite directions. "You're mine, Saskue!" Kiba bellows, chasing after him growling playfully.

I run after Naruto. I must be getting quicker, because in no time I'm right behind him. I grab the back of his jacket, and toss him at the ground, quickly pinning his arms to the ground with my knees. I sit proudly on top my prey. "If you beg for forgiveness, I'll give you a quick and painless death."

He snarls, "Never!"

I soften, stroking his cheek with the back of my hand. "I really thought I was going to lose you this time. I was so scared; I think I went a little crazy too. Promise me you'll never do something so risky ever again."

He winks at me, "Don't you know how long people have been trying to kill me? I'm too strong." He repeats my words back at me.

I pinch his cheek a little roughly, aware that he's avoided promising me anything. Somehow, I never expected him to; I know if he asked me to do the same I would refuse. Happy that at least this time, we came out on the winning side; I gift my crazy hero with a soft kiss.

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