Chapter 21: A Realization and Decision

Sayuri sat in her windowsill in the darkness of her room, the moonlight illuminating her face. She had heard Sasuke come inside shortly after she had. He did not bother her. She wondered if Naruto had told him about what had happened. Sayuri had been up all night and was sure that Sasuke had already gone to bed.

Sayuri got down from her windowsill and tiptoed over to the doorway. Slowly she opened her door, stepped outside, and then closed it again. She heard the television on and went to go check it out. As she approached the living room she saw Sasuke lying on the couch. He had obviously fallen asleep watching TV.

Sayuri stared down at him; he looked so peaceful. Slowly she bent over and knelt beside the couch. Staring at him she heard her sister's words echo in her head.

Deep down you truly know that you are a killer, Sayuri had always doubted that she could change. You cannot ignore your thirst for blood and power, Sayuri could practically hear Sasuke's blood running through his veins, she felt her heart pounding. I've found a way to lift the seals we bare. She had always dreamed of being able to get rid of it. You would do anything to remove it would you not? It would be so easy right now to just… Show me that you are strong Sayuri, return to me within a week with Mangekyou Sayuri's hand wandered to her pouch and she pulled a kunai out, and grasped it hard with her hands. Her heart was pounding; her breathing was heavy. She stared at Sasuke, was his life worth her freedom?

Sayuri's blood covered kunai fell to the ground and a crimson liquid puddle formed around it.

"Man where is Sayuri and Sasuke?" Naruto asked.

Naruto and Sakura were standing at the training area waiting for everyone else to get there.

"I hope they're OK," Sakura said.

Naruto worried that Sayuri had considered the deal that was presented to her the night before. Should he tell Sakura about what had happened? He wanted to believe that Sayuri would never do such a thing but because he knew what she was. Naruto scolded himself for ever thinking that way. How many times had been ignored, feared, or hated for what was inside of him? Sayuri was not her sister and she would not do that to her friend.

"Sayuri-san, Sasuke-kun!" Sakura called.

Naruto looked up in relief at the sight of them heading towards the training area. They were both safe.

"What took you guys so long?" Naruto asked.

"Just running a little late is all," Sayuri said.

Naruto noticed that Sayuri's hand was bandaged, "What happened?" he said pointing at her hand.

"Just slipped and fell," Sayuri said with a smile.

Naruto pulled Hinata's ointment out of his pouch and handed it to Sayuri. She took and muttered a thank you. Slowly she un-bandaged her hand. Her palm had been cut open again, and Naruto doubted that she had just slipped and fell. There was too much significance to where the cut was, too much history behind that certain wound. She rubbed the ointment on her and it healed instantly.

"Thank-you," she said as she handed the ointment back to Naruto, "Kakashi-sensei late again as usual?"

"Yeah," Sakura answered.

"I hope that we do not have to so anything big today," Sayuri yawned, "I'm really tired," she said as she stretched.

"Good morning," Kakashi said as he approached.

Everyone just looked at him.

"I am busy with something today so I am unable to train with you,"

Everyone just continued to look at him.

"Why couldn't you tell us this yesterday so that we would not have to wake up so early?" Naruto asked.

Kakashi just smiled and put his hand behind his head, "Because yesterday I did not know," he said simply and then he left.

"I still owe you ramen Naruto," Sayuri said, "would you like to go for some now?"

"Of course I love ramen!" Naruto replied.

"Would you guys like to come?" Sayuri asked Sasuke and Sakura.

Sakura and Sasuke both shook their heads. Naruto and Sayuri started to walk towards the restaurant that Naruto always went to to get ramen. They walked in complete silence. Both apparently lost in their own thoughts. When they got there Sayuri ordered two bowls and they took their seats.

"All right let's eat!" Naruto cried as his ramen was placed in front of him.

Sayuri smiled and began to eat. Suddenly Naruto stopped eating and looked over at Sayuri.

"Have you…have you thought…" Naruto started.

"Yes I have,"

Naruto swallowed hard, "But you're not…"

Sayuri just stared straight forward. There was a moment of silence.

"No," Sayuri said, "There is one thing that I have come to realize while I have spent my time here with you guys. That the only thing someone can have in this world is there friends. I had been alone for so long, and I know you know how that feels, but now I know that I am no longer alone. You guys are my friends and I would not trade anything for you,"

Naruto smiled, "I knew that you weren't like her,"

Sayuri smiled and they both began to eat again.

Sayuri walked into the house and was surprised to find Sasuke sitting at the table. He appeared to have been sitting there waiting for Sayuri to come back. Sayuri took off her shoes and walked over into the kitchen. She took the seat across from Sasuke and he looked at her.

"Naruto asked me and odd question last night," he said

Sayuri looked straight into his eyes, he wanted to know what was going on.

"About?" Sayuri asked.

"Don't play stupid with me," Sasuke said angrily, "I know that it was directly related to the way you acted last night. You walked right past me when you come home and then I wake up in the middle of the night to you bleeding and crying, without an explanation. What's going on?"

Sayuri thought it would be best to tell him the truth. She told him about the encounter she had with her sister. She explained the offer that had been made to her. She even told him about how much she had considered killing him the night before.

"I understand if you don't feel safe with me in your home anymore and I will leave if you want me to,"

Sasuke just looked at her, "Do you really think that I'd do that?"

"No,"

They sat there just looking into each other's eyes. Then acting on urge Sayuri leaned forward and kissed Sasuke. Quickly she pulled back again.

"I'm sorry," Sayuri said weakly.

Sasuke looked at her, his thoughts incomprehensible by his face. Then he leaned forward and kissed her back.