Disclaimer: MMMmmm, I just had the best peanut butter sanwhich ever! But who cares.

The next chapter is finally here! Thank you all for the reveiws! AHHHH! My cat won't leave me alone! I think she'd in heat. :S

Music sudgestion: Another Lonley day-by Ben Harper.

CHAPTER NINE: Faces In the Dark.

Mayu blushed feircly, pulling far away from Sasuke and wrapping her arms around her knees. She hadn't expected it to come out as a yell. Sasuke was just staring at her with wide, stunned eyes. Obviously he hadn't expected that either. The air in the small bathroom had suddenly gotten thick, filled with confused thoughts and fears.

"W-What?" Sasuke whispered after some time. He was still staring at her, as if the look on her face would help him understand everything, but skin couldn't do anything like that.

"I'm afraid of the dark." Mayu squeaked, her voice cracking in anticipation. Any minute now and Sasuke would yell, laugh, something. The silence couldn't last forever. Feeling uncomfortable, Mayu went on the explain. "I first noticed the night I stayed in the hospital. I didn't understand it then, but the nurse explained it to me...I'm sorry Sasuke, you can bring me back to the hospital if you want."

Mayu looked up in surprise when Sasuke stood up and walked over to a closet in the corner. It was like he hadn't even heard her as he pulled out a large quilt and a pillow. Sasuke grabbed the bedroll he used on misson's and laid it on the floor, making it up with the quilt and pillow. Mayu watched unblinking, unable to comprehend what he was doing.

"Sleep on the bed." Sasuke snapped suddenly, before falling onto the bedroll and covering himself in the sheets. It was silent as Mayu sat stunned next to the door, unable to move or think. Finally, Sasuke rolled over and glared at her. "Well? We have to wake up early, so go to sleep!"

Mayu jumped up quickly and slowly stumbled over to the bed. It was still warm from Sasuke being in it moments before, and Mayu sunk deep into the sheets. It wasn't like she couldn't argue with Sasuke, from what she knew about him he would just challenge her and get angry. So Mayu settled with snuggling into the warm bed and closing her eyes. This time, Sasuke's short breathes seemed to envelope Mayu and comforted her, and she fell asleep within moments.

&&

Naruto yawned widely, sitting with his back against a tree as he stared at the morning sun. Next to him stood Sasuke and that strange girl Mayu. She seemed to be attached to Sasuke for some reason, following him around everywhere. Of course it made sense, she wasn't aloud to know anyone else, and she had to live with Sasuke.

Naruto snorted and glanced at them. Mayu was sitting on her knees in the grass, staring at the green blades. On her finger tip was a small beetle, it's antenas flickering around, trying to figure out where it was and why it wasn't on grass. Mayu smiled with wonder at the tiny creature, as if she'd never seen one before.

"Morning!" Cried a loud voice. Naruto practically jumped out of his skin, Kakashi suddenly appearing directly next to him.

"Kakashi!" Naruto screeched, scrambling to his feet dramatically. He pointed a menacing finger at Kakashi and futile attempt to catch his attention. "Why the hell are you late again?"

"Sorry, my jutsu wasn't working and-"

"Shut up." Naruto sighed, rolling his eyes. Of course, they had kept most of their habits from back in the old days. Naruto just didn't want to let go of them. It was the only sliver of hope that before all the pain had come, they had been happy.

Mayu slowly got to her feet, placing the lady big gently on a tree trunk before approaching Kakashi.

"What will we do today?" Mayu asked softly, her large red and blue eyes seemingly tearing and ripping all objects apart until they were nothing but peices of information in her mind. They were calculating, and every time she looked at someone it was if she were seeing through them, inside them.

Even Kakashi couldn't look her in the eyes.