A/N: Beware if you get grossed out by Mekia sometimesXD She does pretty scary movesO.o

Please enjoy! -Nicachan510

Dimensions 2

Chapter 34: Chikako: Transform! Questioning the Truth

Konohagakure Forest

The barrier was covering half of the forest, but not the half to where Naruto and Gaara were. The only ones in there were Sanomi, Chikako, and Mekia. Mekia just stared at the girls hatefully. Her eyes narrowed as she gripped the soft dirt on the ground. She stood up with an evil grin on her face and wiped the dark blood off her cheek to began another conversation. Kochou Samurai and Guardian were not offended, but hated how she was unstoppable.

"I see you took care of my clones. They're hard, eh?" Mekia laughed. Chikako panted slightly trying not to show that she was tired.

"SANOMI!" Sanomi looked behind her and noticed that Sasuke was pounding on dimensions walls. Chikako and Akemi heard the shout and stared behind them also.

"Sasuke, please! Get out of this area!" She yelled through.

"Demo-"

"I'll be fine! Please, I don't want you hurt anymore!"

"I don't want you hurt either!" He shouted.

Sanomi's eyes widened with shock. Sasuke lowered his head and his pounding fists made a halt.

/S-Sasuke.../

Sanomi did notice that everyone she was in a predicament, Sasuke was the one watching her and trying to help. So many things kept blocking them and they were not able to fight together side by side. It hurt her heart a lot but if one gets hurt, the other wanted to get hurt too. Mekia shook her head with a distraction in front of her and decided to start fighting.

"I guess it's time to FIGHT MORE!"

Mekia clutched her hand and out came a shuriken to throw at Sanomi. Sanomi blocked it with her sword and no longer paying attention to Sasuke, she charged right at her. Mekia blocked the sword with her kunai and both of them were battling it out. Chikako had a arrow ready to shoot. Sanomi and Chikako got the battle plan in their heads. One of them created a distraction while the other was ready to make a move. Once Sanomi made a substitution jutsu, it was Chikako's time to strike. Chikako marked the target on Mekia and let the arrow fly. Mekia looked around to try and find Sanomi but only saw the arrow in front of her face. She dodged it slightly leaving a cut on her cheek. She made a frown and stared at Chikako.

"It's hard being a Kochou Guardian isn't it? When you're Akemi's slave, you are just a little girl. You are not allowed to grow up. You are not allowed to turn into an adult."

Ever since Chikako could remember, she was made only to be a little girl. She was not allowed to grow up. She was close to adulthood but when Akemi was making her, the demon interfered and Akemi did not complete Chikako.She was suppose to be in her teen years, but it never happened. Akemi lost some of her extra energy to do it when battling the demon for the first time. It was to protect the Kochou People from harm.

"Demo, you still keep on going. I only have one question-Why do you keep on going when nothing is going to change?" Mekia asked in a spatful tone. All was silent and all that Chikako could do was giggle.

"Nani?" Mekia didn't like how Chikako was reacting to it.

"You're right...a guardian cannot grow up." Chikako explained. "Demo, you are a baka. Are you assuming that you cannot beat a little guardian?" Chikako closed her eyes with sympathy.

In a just a striking moment, Sanomi kicked Mekia in the face as Mekia was blasted in the dimension walls. Collision was around the area and with all the rubble of rocks Mekia came out. She got angry at the both of them and while Chikako was just standing still, she charged right at her with a kunai. She slashed her but Chikako blocked it with her eyes closed with the crystal kunai.

"KUSO!" Mekia slashed Chikako many times and with one hit, Mekia got her on the arm. Glitter from Chikako started to spread all over the dress and ground. She covered her left arm and in her righ hand was the crystal kunai. Mekia and Chikako were going at it like crazy. Slash after slash and both of them were even. Sanomi tend to use weapons of senbon needles, sharp kunai knives and shurikens, but Mekia blocked them with another kunai in her hand. The Kochou Samurai and Guardian were starting to get exhausted.

"Getting tired? GOOD!"

Mekia leaped into the air making her final move. However, she stopped and landed on the ground. She was wondering what was happening to the Kochou Guardian.

Chikako started to get surrounded by white butterflies. The butterflies were spinning around her and covering her like a blanket. Chikako soon was in a predicament and wondering why white butterflies were surrounding her. Suddenly, a soft voice was echoing her name.

"Chikako...Chikako...Chikako..."

She closed her eyes and the white butterflies would be protecting her for a short period of time. Mekia had no time to waste and eyed Sanomi. She charged toward her while Sanomi made her hand signs for the Petal Dance jutsu. It didn't make it as Mekia grabbed Sanomi's neck tightly.

"Don't make hand signs in front of a person dear. It'll be your down fall." Mekia panted and Sanomi wanted to get out of the grip. Mekia's long figernails slid through Sanomi's cheek, making blood flow. She continued doing this in various parts of Sanomi's body. In Mekia's mind they were marks from the Kochou Demon, showing that she had no mercy.

"Our blood is different Kochou Samurai. My blood runs through despair and revenge against what I want. The blood shows how much hatred or love it has. My blood has a high percentage of hatred and I use it wisely. But your blood..." Mekia took a sample of Sanomi's blood and Sanomi felt like air was running out of her throat.

"Your blood resembles to the greater good. It shows more of love than hate. Anger runs through me seeing you. The Kochou Samurai-willing to kill me. Hah. The world you live by is different than here. Your world is weak compared to here. You have no right to have this purpose."

/Shut up.../ Sanomi thought as she closed her eyes furiously.

"Hmm. What should I do to you?"

Unknown Dimension

"D-Doko desu ka?"

Chikako opened her eyes and noticed that she was standing on a puddle of water. She was now in another dimension she wasn't familiar with. Her arm that was slashed healed right away. But everything was dark in the dimension. She couldn't see anything for a while until she heard footsteps coming her way.

"What do you want?!" Chikako took out her bow and arrow waiting for the unknown stranger. Chikako's eyes start to widen as the stranger came in front of her.

"A-Akemi-sama?" Chikako was in shock. Long brown hair flowed through a soft breeze and Akemi waved a hello. Her kimono was back to normal and it flowed beautifully as she walked toward the guardian. Chikako was cautious though. Who knew if this was the real Kochou Spirit. Akemi kneeled down toward the little girl and spoke.

"Do you wish to not be a little girl anymore?" Akemi asked. Chikako gaped and thought about her current powers.

"Akemi...in order to be an adult, the Kochou Spirit must transfer their energy to the guardian. But I don't want to get my adulthood this way! I want to get it when I believe to be an adult!"

Akemi was shocked on what Chikako wanted. When Chikako begun her mission to be a guardian, Chikako wished to be an adult, not a little girl. Akemi always scolded her each time she would ask that yet Chikako wanted to be patient. Akemi felt her cheek and Chikako let her head go down.

"You are ready..." Akemi spoke softly, "you grew. And I want to award you..."

"Akemi..." Chikako whispered. White butterflies start to flutter around them and they each were glowing.

"Believe in me...Chikako..." Akemi touched the girl's shoulder blades and felt the energy surging out of her. All the energry would now in Chikako. Chikako felt pain while getting this energy, but she felt stronger and somehow, she started to grow a few feet higher...

"I love you...take care." Akemi vanished out of the unknown dimension and Chikako was covered with white butterflies. The butterflies started to develop through Akemi's and Chikako's own strength. It would now combine.

"Akemi..." Chikako whispered to herself, "...arigatou..." She closed her eyes, and all was silent as butterflies continued to go near Chikako.

Konohagakure Forest

"G-G-GET OFF ME!" Sanomi kicked Mekia high in the air and punched her in the face. Mekia wiped the blood in her mouth and punched Sanomi in the stomach. Sanomi gasped with sudden shock but tried not to get fazed by it too much.

"Just admit that I'm right. The world you live in is pathetic. I suggest you go back and stop your role as a Kochou Samurai. Kariko Sanomi."

"SHUT UP!"

Both were fighting in hand to hand combat. Sanomi tripped Mekia a couple of times in her feet and Mekia could only make an evil smirk. Each time she tripped it was substitution jutsu each time. Sanomi turned around and she could sometimes see Mekia with a kunai in the back of her throat. She started to panic and did a jutsu.

"Kochou: Petal Dance jutsu!" Sharp petals were around Sanomi and petals started to slice through Mekia's dress. Mekia froze the petals in the shadows and started to combat Sanomi again.

/Should I use the Hoshi Kochou Strike?/ Sanomi thought in her head and she dodged a blow from Mekia. But soon the Kochou Demon took a good grip of Sanomi's wrist and threw her in the dimension walls. Sasuke was still watching the match. He didn't know what to do. All of his chakra was drained and powerless.

"You okay?" Sasuke asked through the walls. Sanomi struggled to stand up, using the walls as support.

"Yeah."

/Too late to do the Hoshi move.../ She thought in her mind. Sasuke continued to pound the walls furiously.

"I don't want you to interfere Sasuke. Onegai! You helped me already!" But then Mekia was in a quick hurry to get her. She ran like a fierce cheetah and decided to use a move. She placed her hand signs and did the final sign: Bird.

"Kochou: Yami Kochou no jutsu!" In a slow but yet strong attempt, Mekia's forehead had a dark butterfly engraved on her forehead. She bit her finger to get blood and place the blood on her forehead. The engraved butterfly reacted and pretty soon Mekia's forehead made a slight cut. The cut turned bigger and soon Mekia opened her mouth and out came dark butterflies, flying in rapid speed.

Sanomi dodged them but every time she would the butterflies would follow the same direction. Sanomi was hit by them and the butterflies were biting her back.

/B-Butterflies...bite?/ Sanomi thought with agony.

At the same time, the butterflies bit her, and black chakra overflowered her body. Sanomi screamed with pain, the butterflies continued to hurt her and might pass through. Sanomi tried to calm herself down and remembered doing a small little tactic by herself. She grabbed a kunai in her hand and sliced behind her back to get the butterflies. As she did that the butterflies faded away in the creepy shadows.

Mekia slit her eyes a little and ran up to Sanomi. Sanomi blocked a punch by her left but Mekia was too quick. Mekia used a high knee maneuver and hit Sanomi in the stomach. Sanomi coughed with pain; she couldn't move or feel like doing anything. Physically and mentally, she was exhausted. She made a thud on the hard dirt inside the dimension and was motionless. Mekia picked her up by the right arm and pinned her to a tree. Mekia made a hand sign with one hand and black chakra came out of the hand where she was pinning Sanomi.

Black chakra overflowed and Sanomi had to get out of the grip. By the time she was doing this, Mekia started to wonder about Chikako and formed Sanomi in a small barrier so she wouldn't get out.

"This should keep you busy..." Mekia put a hand inside the barrier and black chakra was inside. Sanomi gasped with shock as black chakra covered her whole body.

/No...my body...can't.../ Sanomi closed her eyes and the black chakra was feeding through her.

"Is the Kochou Guardian awake? I want her awake to feel her death!" Mekia, with quick speed, rushed to get the little girl covered with white butterflies. But once Mekia used her kunai to fight, a flash blind her madly. She backed away and once she could see that the white butterflies were still there, she made another move with the kunai.

"Blazing Kunai jutsu!" Mekia spun her kunai around with her finger and jumped high in the air for better results to kill. She dropped down feeling the harsh wind blowing in her face. She could've sworn that tears were coming out of her eyes.

/I got you now.../ Mekia swooped down and slashed the white butterflies away.

But something happened. Something blocked her kunai to kill each and every insect.

"What's the matter?" Mekia's eyes widened. It was a different girl and she blocked it with a kunai.

The girl was taller and she was wearing a long, light blue pale dress. It had dark blue laces at the bottom and had a orange obi with a butterfly insignia on it. The dress had many various designs with a white blossom and the girl's wings were huge. The dress had long sleeves with slight cuts on the upper arm. She had long silvery hair that reached her waist and on her head was a pearled headband with a butterfly emblem on it. Light orange ribbons from each side from the headband flowed through the wind. She had a beautiful complexion that her face looked like a doll, matched with sapphire eyes. Beneath her feet were glass slippers and sparkles lifted the air once she arrived.

"Where's Chikako-teme?!" Mekia shouted.

She used her kunai but the girl with swift movement duck down to avoid the slash and punched Mekia in the gut. By that, Mekia was high in the air. Mekia thought that she lost her ablility to breathe after that huge impact. The girl had a bow and arrow in her hand and with a quick flick, she let the arrow fly to where Sanomi was. The arrow made the dark orb crack and it vanished out of sight. Sanomi made a thud on the ground and was unconscious.

/I'll take care of you later./ The girl's wings fluttered to where Mekia was reaching to the sky. They were white butterfly wings that sparkled like the stars.

"You don't recognize me? I'm shocked. We've been battling each other for a long time Mekia. You should know." The girl made a smirk and with her elbow, smacked Mekia in the stomach. Mekia felt blood surging through her throat and coughed some out. Mekia flew back down to the ground and the girl landed perfectly down with her wings. Mekia was in a pile of rocky rubble and she coughed out some words.

"A-Anata...Anata no...Ch-Chikako desu ka?" Mekia groaned as she was stuck in the rubble. The girl made no emotion.

"Answer me!" Mekia screamed with fury.

"I'm known as Kochou Spirit Chikako!" Chikako looked very older now. She used to be a nine year old, but now she looked like she was sixteen-that was a huge difference.

/Ch-Chikako?/ Sanomi thought as she opened up her eyes a little.

Chikako swooped up to the skies and did hand signs with one hand. In her hand was a light ball and inside was a butterfly fluttering around. Chikako focused on the energy and soon her wings started to glow.

"KOCHOU: HIKARI TSUBASA NO JUTSU!" Chikako closed her eyes and needed to feel the dark energy in order to target. Mekia stood up quickly and glared at the girl.

"Shadow Ball Ultimate!" Mekia threw two shadow balls high in the air and Mekia formed into her demon form. The elegant purple wings fluttered and Chikako was swooping around with the lightest ball in the area.

/Take this!/ Mekia and Chikako did one of their toughest moves. A huge collision occurred and it almost vanished everything inside the forest! Matters who was up...

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After that huge collision...everything was silent. Rubbles of rocks fall in the ground like a small avalanche. No one was seen in the forest and it felt like a ghost town, filled with chills and frightening thoughts. Soon, a person started to stand up.

It was Chikako.

She was panting loudly and she couldn't believe it. She mastered Akemi's Hikari Tsubasa jutsu only once! This was a major improvement for her to just relive it all. In her hands she carried Sanomi and laid her down on the ground.

/Is...Is she still-/ Chikako wished she finished that thought but another person started to pack in from the rubble and out came Mekia. The purple dress was ripped, her hair had full of dirt, and scratches were on her face.

"So...this is what the Kohcou Guardian hid? Hiding the power and seeking potential? I like that." Mekia started to get up but Chikako held up her bow and arrow. Mekia had lost all her chakra and could no longer attain them.

" I'll say one thing. You will be sealed by me so you would not harm the samurai. I suggest that you stay away from her. Cuz otherwise, she'll kill you." Chikako summoned her largest arrow she had and had a sealing arrow in her hand.

"Hmph. Fine. I already did my mission anyway. Killing my insolent sister. I'll give you time to train the little samurai and yourself. But beware. This is not my true form. I'll be ready when the time comes.." Mekia raised her arms in the air, showing to Chikako that she surrendered. Chikako nodded her head.

"I'm cutting slack on you. Prepare to die if we meet again." Chikako raised her arrow and closed her eyes. The arrow started to glow and a star was on the point.

"Kochou: Sealing Arrow no jutsu!" Chikako let go of the arrow and it shone with pure light. White butterflies shown everywhere and Mekia was ready to feel it pierce her. The arrow pierced right on Mekia's heart and Mekia could only cough roughly. A diamond sealing bubble covered her whole body and Chikako controlled the bubble. With her hands, Chikako raised her arms and the diamond bubble flew high in the air and disappeared in the blue sky.

/Forgive me Akemi-sama.../ Chikako let a tear come out of her eye.

/ I want Sanomi ready to fight the terror when the time comes.../ Chikako closed her eyes and turned away to check on Sanomi. The dimension walls slowly disappeared.

"Wake up." Chikako whispered and she spread little chakra in her hand. She laid her hand on Sanomi's forehead and a soft glow appeared. Once the glowing subsided, Sanomi opened her eyes.

"Wh-Who are you?" Sanomi muttered as she stared at the girl before her.

"You didn't hear me? Chikako: Kochou Spirit." Sanomi's eyes widened as she stood up in a slow struggle.

"Nani? Am I so different that you are speechless?" Chikako giggled.

"Ah...iie." But then Sanomi made a frown.

"Why did you let Mekia go? It'll be like the story of Orochimaru...do you want that?" Sanomi asked. Chikako shook her head.

"You'll die quickly without the proper training. The Kochou Demon-"

"I know how hard she is Chikako. Mada, that could've been our chance."

"You don't understand." Chikako said softly. Sanomi gazed at Chikako's new form and shrugged.

"What don't I understand?" Sanomi wondered.

"The Kochou Demon...look what she did to the forest..." Sanomi gazed around the area and gasped. Black ashes were everywhere when they were fighting. The forests' trees looked dead without leaves or flowers. Overall, black chakra that was left from Mekia, or blood, affected the forest.

"If Mekia wasn't gone soon, half of the forest would be gone. Do you want that?"

"Iie...I...I didn't know..." Sanomi kneeled down to stare at a yellow flower not affected by Mekia. It was a marigold that swept through the breeze. But as Sanomi touched it, she noticed that she had Mekia's blood on her hand. The marigold suddenly started to turn into pieces of ash. Sanomi clutched her fist and on the inside and felt overly weak.

"Daijoubu ka?" Chikako asked. Sanomi coughed a bit and nodded.

"Hai. I'm sorry I snapped in front of you. Demo, I want an answer from you." Chikako was puzzled.

"Tell me the truth. Is...Akemi...d-dead?" Chikako lowered her head in shame.

"There's a reason I asked you to summon me. Akemi's Kochou Spirit Form went in me and I'm no longer a Kochou Guardian. The Kochou Spirit must be summoned. Gomenasai." Chikako and Sanomi were silent for a while. Sanomi couldn't believe her ears. She felt like she was in a dream and wanted to wake up.

/This is dream. When I wake up, everything was normal. Akemi living, and Chikako a guardian./ Sanomi pinched herself on the arm and when it did hurt...it was not a dream.

"No...Akemi..."

The barrier faded away and everything was silent in the forest. It turned out that Naruto and Gaara finally ended their match and both of them lied down. That made Sanomi wanting to do the same. She eyed the sand pouring down to where Sakura was and she was falling to the ground. Sanomi knew what was going to happen as her eyes narrowed to Sasuke who caught her in time. Sanomi was glad that Sasuke caught her. She was surprised that the battle between Naruto and Gaara, and Mekia and her, ended at the same time. Sanomi felt so dizzy that she started to see her blood all over her. She didn't notice the blood after she knew about Akemi. Blood dripped on her cheek, forehead, hands, and legs. She looked like a total mess.

/Mekia...she did this.../ Sanomi wiped off the blood on her cheek. She stared at the blue sky above her and felt a cold breeze chill her. Her eyes widened when she totally forgot someone.

"Naruto..." Sanomi ran weakly to where Naruto was and she saw him crawling around in the ground.

"Daijoubu? Stop moving." Sanomi said to him. Naruto had blood all over his forehead and he looked overly weak. Sanomi knew how much he needed to save so many people. She gazed at Gaara who was staring at the two of them. He looked puzzled as what was happening. Naruto was getting closer to him.

"Gaara..." Sanomi whispered to herself.

"Sanomi. It's okay. It's over." Naruto groaned.

"You got to stop moving kudasai. Naruto-"

"K-Kariko." Naruto and Sanomi looked at Gaara. He looked badly hurt like Naruto.

"What do you want with her?" Naruto questioned harshly.

"Kariko...I felt your chakra. Demo, I won't do anything about it." Sanomi's eyes turned away from the red haired boy.

"Leave her alone. She doesn't have anything to deal with you."

"Naruto, daijoubu." Sanomi walked slowly towards Sabaku no Gaara. She kneeled down and stared at his panda looking eyes.

"I won't hurt you if you won't hurt me. But by your condition, I think you're not going to fight anymore." Sanomi said to him as she coughed.

"Fine by me." He said. Sanomi walked away from him and Naruto continued to crawl towards him for a reason.

/We're the same.../ Naruto thought.

"I know what being alone is like. I used to be in that isolated place. But I escaped that place and found a door that opened. My friends opened that door for me and I no longer have to go back again." Naruto called out.

/Love...is that what give him strength?/ Gaara questioned to himself. Sanomi heard the words Naruto spoken and he was right. Friends did open the door for him. She felt the same when she first met Yuki after the alleyway incident in Tokyo. They both opened doors for each other.

"Naruto, stop." Sanomi and Naruto's eyes stared at the Uchiha in front of him.

"Sakura's fine now. Don't give so much pressure on yourself." Sasuke recently left Sakura with Pakkun, which by the way Pakkun didn't know what to do with her. Suddenly two Sand nins were in Gaara's side and both of them were willing to fight.

"It's over. Don't." Gaara muttered to them. Temari and Kankuro were surprised to hear it from him.

"Gaara-"

"It's over." Gaara said one more time. Kankuro sighed and carried him behind the shoulder.

"If you say so." The Sand nin gazed at the Leaf nin and disappeared out of sight. The only thing that was in Gaara's mind was Uzumaki Naruto and the incredible Leaf ninjas.

/Sanomi?/ Sanomi finally figured out that Chikako was back in the mind again. If she needed Chikako now, she must play the flute to summon her.

/Hai?/

/Rest now./ Chikako suggested. But as she said that Sanomi's knees weakened and she fell to the ground.

"SANOMI!"

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Uchiha Residence

Yume

"We'll meet again and fight."

Sanomi was in a middle of a field and had the sword in her hand. In front of her was a diamond-shaped orb and Mekia was inside with her eyes closed.

"Train hard if you want. It won't change anything. You'll die."

Sanomi clutched her fists tightly upon the sword and called out a sword jutsu.

"KOCHOU: HOSHI KOCHOU STRIKE!" Sanomi let the star burst like a firecracker and she slashed the diamond shaped orb with Mekia in it...

End Yume

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It was the next day after the surprising war. Sasuke had watched Sanomi sleeping soundly in his house. He placed her in bed waiting for a sign that she'll wake up. He had the permission from Kakashi earlier that he had to take Sanomi under his care. Naruto, Sakura, and the rest of the ninjas who battled were taken under care in the hospital or at their own house. Healing Sasuke's own wounds were easier for him, yet Sanomi had difficulties waking up. He already put some bandages on her face and areas where bleeding occurred. He sat on a chair silently and could hear the soft snores coming out of the girl. Soon, something was heard from the bed and Sasuke started to pay attention. Sanomi made a few moans before she woke up.

"Ugh...my head." Sanomi sat up still having her eyes closed and rubbed her forehead. She felt the bandages on her head and figured that it was taken care of. But by who?

"Where am I?" Sanomi questioned as her eyes opened a bit. She saw Sasuke waiting for her in a chair.

"Daijoubu?"

"Doko desu ka? Genki desu."(1) Sanomi wanted to get out of bed but Sasuke held her down.

"You're at my house. Your injuries weren't that serious. I had to take you under my care." Sasuke explained.

"Demo, where's Sakura-chan? Naruto-san? Where's-"

"They're fine." Sasuke stopped Sanomi from saying more people. "Demo, one person isn't..."

"Who?" Sanomi asked.

"The Hokage. He passed away."

Sanomi's eyes widened with shock. The Hokage...dead? She never could picture that in her head. That would make two people she cared about dead! Akemi...and Sarutobi: Third Hokage. They were both so wonderful to her...how come they had to die?

"It hurts too. He was the one that helped me with my problem after the massacre..." Sasuke explained.

"Gomenasai..." Sanomi said softly.

"I feel bad. I only get to see him once in person..." Sanomi whispered. Both of them stayed silent for a while.

"It's not fair. Everyone that is good had to die, why not the bad people?" Sanomi said out loud.

"Shirimasen." Sasuke said softly as he could.

"It's just...not fair. Akemi's dead...now the Hokage?" Sasuke's ears perked up.

"Who's Akemi?"

"Akemi. A Kochou Spirit living inside my mind. She guides me like Chikako except she's more stronger."

"Kochou Guardian and Samurai both miss her." Sanomi and Sasuke saw Chikako appear out of no where.

"I thought you had to be summoned!" Sanomi said out loud.

"Sometimes things cannot be explained." Chikako winked. Sasuke just stared awkwardly. Chikako looked older and more different.

"Mataku, are you speechless too?" Chikako asked close up. Sasuke could only stay silent.

"Fine. I guess that's a yes." Chikako crossed her arms and sat down in another chair.

"Is it over? The war?" Sanomi asked. Sasuke nodded his head.

"Buildings are destroyed though. Overall we're fine. People sacrifice their lives for others..." Sasuke muttered under his breath. Sanomi stayed silent thinking about Akemi. She wished that she could see her one last time.

"Are you hungry?" Sasuke questioned.

"No. I'm just tired." Sanomi laid back down on the bed looking at a nearby window.

"Does Sakura know I'm here?"

"Only Kakashi. But not Sakura." He answered as he crossed his arms to his chest.

"Shai, he he." Sanomi made a small grimace. Sasuke made a frown and turned his head.

"I should've helped you." Sanomi lifted her head after the words Sasuke had spoken, "I should've helped..."

"Sasuke, you already helped me." Sanomi reassured him. Sasuke shook his head fiercely.

"I...feel like I lack something. Something I never felt for years. When I stare at you being hurt inside those walls, I feel like there was nothing I could do in there when I should've!"

"Sasuke, I don't want you pushing yourself! It's my fault that this predicament happened!"

"STOP TELLING ME IT'S YOUR FAULT!" Sasuke was starting to get out of control and Sanomi couldn't believe it. He had never seen him reacted like this before. He was angry and confused and that was a bad combination.

"I wanted to do something. I wanted to help you more! But you totally blew me away with the comment!"

"W-What comment?" Sanomi asked fearfully.

"I don't want you hurt." Sasuke recited the words, "Well guess what? I've been hurt ever since childhood! I'm used to it!"

Something inside Sanomi mentally snapped. Chikako was frightened about how the two of them were reacting to one another.

"YAMERO!" Sasuke eyes widened as he turned his head to face Sanomi. Sanomi was streaming down tears in her face. She whimpered a little and stared at the wall in front of her.

"Y-YAMERO! I...I hate it when I see other people get hurt! It's like seeing myself! I try to fight by myself and fight FOR myself. I'm trying to prove that I can do anything! That's the reason I don't want you to interfere with my match! You were already injured enough in front of my eyes and I hated that! Always protecting me every time when I could've done at least one thing! I didn't want you to fight anymore! DON'T SAY IT'S YOUR FAULT! YOU ALREADY HELPED ME!!" Sanomi got out of control and said more than she needed to.

"THERE'S A REASON I'M STILL HERE SASUKE! WHY I'M HERE IN THE NINJA WORLD! I feel like you don't understand me just yet so DON'T YOU SEE WHY?! SASUKE GA DAISUKI!"

"THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I WANT TO LEAVE THIS WORLD! TO GET AWAY FROM IT ALL! I STILL CAN DO THAT! BUT I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE THE WORLD FOREVER BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO LOSE YOU! THE OTHER WORLD HAS BEEN A PAIN TO ME! SO DON'T DO THIS TO ME!"

Sanomi made a fierce move to slap Sasuke but he gripped her wrist before his face was more injured. Just at the moment, Sanomi realized what she was doing. She stared close to Sasuke's eyes, knowing how calm and patient his eyes were. She closed her eyes and more tears started to fall. She didn't know why it snapped in her mind. She should've controlled herself more better before she would make a strict move. When she wanted to slap him, she felt overpowered by him and could not do anything else. In a swift moment, Sasuke let go of her wrist and embraced her tightly. The comforting warmth and touch relaxed Sanomi. It even relaxed himself. Sanomi couldn't believe that after that outburst, Sasuke was still comforting her. She felt bad and that made her cry even more.

"Sumimasen. Don't cry anymore." Sasuke whispered. He let go of the embrace and with his thumb, wiped the remaining tears in Sanomi's eyes. Sanomi tried to turn away but Sasuke gripped her chin with a simple hand and lifted her head up.

"I'm sorry I reacted like this. I just wish I could've done more to help..." He whispered as a faint blush showed in his cheeks. Sanomi had a keen eye and noticed that blush in a second.

"You've already done enough for me. You don't need to do more. I'm sorry...for snapping at you." Sanomi lowered her eyes and both were silent.

Sanomi had to ask a off-topic question.

"So...when is the Hokage Funeral?" Sasuke did not answer her just yet and he let in one thought in his mind.

/They say that when you yell at someone,/

/...that proves how you truly love them.../

A/N: Forgive me if I made it a little TOO harshxD

(1) Doko desu ka? Genki desu: Where am I? I'm fine.