To those of you that dislike the idea of Sasuke being with Kalei...this chapter might upset you. But remember...Kalei is basically the plot of this whole thing. I'm really trying to make it suspenseful...and keep you reading...but don't worry. This is SasuSaku. :)
And once again, thanks to those who review. It makes me want to write all the time, and with the weekend coming up...I'll have lots of time to update more chapters. So please...review!! If you have any comments or criticism...let me know!!
Enjoy!.. :)...

Chapter Eleven: Slow and Silent Sinking

"Maybe there's beauty in goodbye."

"Those bonds...I never broke them."

"You didn't have to."

He never thought he'd say it but...Sasuke was feeling way too much at one time. He didn't know what to think of his date the other night with Sakura. He hadn't felt like that in such a long time. That feeling of having somebody there to hold onto. It was new to him. He didn't quite understand. And the only thing running through his mind was Sakura...and what she had said to him. Wasn't hating his brother the only thing that could make him stronger? Didn't he need to sever those bonds to accomplish his goal? He wasn't sure anymore.

He was taking a walk to try and clear his mind, when he reached the pond where he and Sakura had been the night before. And much to his surprise, Sakura was there. Standing next to the pond. She was standing in the same pajama's as the first night he had seen her.

"Sakura."

She turned around and after identifying the person behind her, smiled.

"You're going to get sick again."

"Sasuke...I was just thinking about going over to your house to talk to you." She said quietly, as Sasuke walked up to her. Sure enough, her arm was covered with goosebumps. She was cold.

"About what?" He asked, running his eyes over her body. Maybe it was just the fact that it was this same spot where they had been so close only the night before, but something in him wanted to reach out and grab her hand again. He wanted to feel that same security as he had last night.

"I'm leaving for a mission really early tomorrow." She said, lowering her head. "I'll be gone for three days."

Sasuke's eyes widened. Normally, it's just three days...but shinobi die every day. Missions shouldn't be taken lightly. And if he was correct, she would be taking a high rank mission. He nodded his head.

"Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone...because if I'm not here...I won't be able to talk to Lady Tsunade for you." She looked up, eyes piercing Sasuke's. A small smirk crawled onto his face and he nodded once again. He felt like there was something else he should say, but didn't quite know what it was.

"Come back alive." He mumbled in his low, monotone voice. Sakura smiled once again and nodded. She looked off to her side, at the pond.

"Thank you for last night, Sasuke." She said quietly. He just looked at her. Into her eyes. "I'm glad you did it for me."

"For you?" His voice broke into the silence and she looked back at him, eyes wide. He smirked and looked up into the sky. "I didn't just do it for you, Sakura."

The sound of her name on his lips sent chills through her body, making her run her hands over her arms. It helped the cold create goosebumps on her skin. Sasuke looked back to her, slowly lifted his arm, and ran his hand gently down her arm.

"Go home. You'll get sick right before your mission."

Her wary eyes looked into his.

"I'll be right here when you come back."

She smiled. "No trouble?"

He rolled his eyes and chuckled. "No trouble. Now get home...Sakura."

She nodded and started walking past him. Once she had made it a few steps, she stopped and noticed he was walking beside her. "I'll walk you home...you wouldn't want to get sick and faint on anyone." He said, smirking. He was clearly making fun of when she had done just that to him. She rolled her eyes and they continued to walk in silence.

Sakura started giggling quietly. "Maybe we can go on another date when I get back." She said jokingly, sticking her tongue out at him.

He smiled and shrugged. "Maybe we can."

"Kalei!"

Kalei looked up from her book and seen an energetic Naruto standing right in front of her. She was outside of the park by the academy, reading. She was hoping she could get some peace and quiet tonight...and hopefully avoid Sasuke's next question for her. For some reason...it had her nervous.

"Hey, Naruto. What are you doing out here?" She asked, surveying the area. It was dead all around.

"Iruka-sensei took me out for some ramen...and I didn't feel like heading back home."

Kalei nodded and shut her book. "Yeah, it's calm around here. I like it." She said looking up at him. "Definitely doesn't seem like somewhere a hyper kid like you would be." She giggled and Naruto rolled his eyes at her comment. He sat down beside her and sighed.

"You here just to relax?"

She shrugged and started tapping on her book cover. "Thinking about some things. Situating some problems."

Naruto's eyes widened. "Did I interrupt you?"

She giggled. "A little."

He ran a hand through his hair and sighed again. "I'm sorry. Maybe I can help?"

She shook her head. Her problem was unable to be fixed. There was nothing she could do...and nobody could help her. It was something she had to deal with...no matter how much it hurt.

"Maybe lend some helpful advice?" He asked again, persistently. Kalei looked at him and smiled.

"You won't leave me alone until I say yes, will you?"

Naruto laughed and shook his head.

She sighed and stopped tapping her finger on her book. "Okay...well here, think about this." She tilted her head back. "What do you do when you want something really, really bad...but you can't have it. It's unattainable."

Naruto's eyes widened. "Why's it unattainable?"

"Because you're pretty sure it's somebody else's already..."

He tapped his finger on his chin. He wasn't that dense. He knew she was talking about some guy.

After a moment of silence, he spoke energetically. "Fight for it."

Her mouth went dry, and she just stared at him. "What?" She asked quietly. Naruto smiled and nodded.

"If it's something you really want, you have to fight for it. Nothing comes to those that do nothing."

Wow, for someone Sasuke described as so stupid, he was really making himself look smart right now. His words made sense...but still. Could she really fight for the one thing she wanted most? Was there even competition?

She smiled sadly and laughed, causing Naruto's face to twist in confusion.

"And that's true no matter what? Do you think everybody deserves to put up a fight?" She asked quietly. Naruto nodded slowly, trying to put together what she was getting at.

She sighed. "Naruto, I'm talking about Sasuke."

His eyes widened with shock. He opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out. All of a sudden...his words of advice didn't sound so good. There was no way he wanted Sakura to get hurt. He knew that her date with Sasuke had meant a lot...and apparently, she was getting somewhere with him. The old Sasuke wouldn't have said yes in the first place...so they were making progress. But something was pulling in his chest. As he looked at Kalei...he still felt that he had said the right thing.

"You...you like Sasuke?" He spat out, noticing her expression turn solemn.

"Yes." She said quietly, looking down to avoid his eyes. This was the first time she ever admitted it. She didn't know why...but she felt like she could trust Naruto. It was something about him. "But I know there's something between him and Sakura. I've never been one to try and meddle in things that aren't my business...so I'm-"

"He talks about you." Naruto cut her off, causing her eyes to shift back onto him. A look of shock flooded into her face. "He talks about you a lot, actually. About your game of truth...and how he constantly makes fun of you...and how it gets you angry." Naruto said, smiling at her. He shouldn't be saying this...but...

"He makes fun of me because he can't stand me..." She ran her hand through her hair.

"No...I think it's because he likes to upset you. He thinks it's fun. He likes your reaction...he..." All of a sudden...the words started coming slower. It was only fair..."He...likes you...as a person."

Kalei bit her lip and closed her eyes. That's not true. We don't get along. We fight all the time. And besides...even though part of me likes him...another part hates him. I hate him, don't I? "You're lying."

Naruto shook his head and stood up. "Kalei...I shouldn't say this but...Old Lady Tsunade...told me Sakura was leaving on a mission tomorrow and would be gone for three days."

She looked up at him with glassy eyes. It looked like she was about to cry. Three days?

"I meant what I said. Nobody can change things for you but yourself. You have to believe." He said, scratching his head. "And...I'm not very good at giving advice so...just work with what I said." He started chuckling, and smiled at her. She felt a warm feeling captivate her chest, and a tear fell down her cheek. She really was emotional. And something about fighting for Sasuke...made her sad. Scared. She hadn't felt this way for anybody in a long time.

Naruto's hand swooped down and wiped the tear off her cheek. "I'm going to head home. I've got a long day of training tomorrow. Will you be okay?"

She stared into his eyes. The eyes that looked so much like hers. Big, blue, lively, and childish. She smiled and stood up. "I'll be okay. Thank you, Naruto."

He nodded and started to walk off.

"You know, Naruto."

He turned back.

"I like...people like you." She waved to him, and he smiled back at her.

"I like you too!!!" He shouted, louder than needed, and turned and walked off again.

She sat there and processed the conversation. Sakura was her friend. She had told her all about her crush on Sasuke and had confided in Kalei. Was she really willing to break that friendship? Was Sasuke all that important? She took a deep breath.

"Time is the longest distance between two things."

Sasuke was right when he said that. And Sakura would be gone for three whole days.

"You can cry, you know."

He wanted her to feel comfortable around him, did he not?

"Pass."

And he hadn't answered that question. If he was sure about his feelings...he could have answered it no problem. But he hadn't.

"Because...it has to be a good one."

Naruto was right. There was still time. Even if his answer to her question about Sakura was yes...it was better that she told Sasuke how she felt. Atleast then he'd know...and if things became awkward...she would be done watching him in 11 days. That's it. That was how much time she had left to sort out her feelings.

She looked up into the sky, taking a deep breath. Just then, she seen a shooting star, and smiled.

And now, she was supposed to wish, right?

"Nobody can change things for you but yourself. You have to believe."

Naruto was right. She would believe. She would change things.

So, she didn't even have to wish.

Next Chapter: Let It Rain