Sorry...this chapter is short- I'm kinda in Grand Forks seeing some family, so I'm kinda busy. BUT- I'll be writing a bit tonight! Review!
Enjoy!

Chapter Eighteen: What You Really Feel

"I wanna hold you close. I wanna push you away. I wanna make you go. I wanna make you stay."

"I don't want to talk about it." He cut her off, her expression showing no change.

Sasuke just wasn't in the mood to talk about last night. The way he felt. Everything. And his conversation...or more, interrogation, with Sakura earlier had just put him in a bad mood. He didn't think his talking to Kalei now would end good.

"Then just listen." She said firmly, taking a step toward him.

He growled and looked up at her, his eyes blazing. She simply looked down on him with dull eyes.

"I didn't mean to push you away. I was just upset..." She said slowly, her eyes drifting to the floor. It was getting harder to look at him.

His eyes narrowed. "Tell me...did it change?"

She looked back up to his eyes, a questioning look filling them. "Did...what change?"

"The way you feel for me."

She bit her lip. Of course not. Stupid question. Feelings don't just change randomly in a few seconds. "No." She spoke quietly.

His face twisted into a glare. "So why did you grab onto Naruto that way? Like you were scared to let go." He hissed angrily, earning a shocked expression from Kalei.

"It was raining...I-"

"-Had me right there."

Her gaze drifted off to the side. He was making this hard.

"I was trying to keep my promise." He said coldly, standing up and looking down on her. Her eyes shifted back to him once again, and an upset look graced her face.

"Trying isn't good enough."

His face twisted into a sour look.

"If it was, I'd have you convinced that life here is so much more worth while." She explained, her fists clenching at her sides.

He rolled his eyes. "What is it with you? Why don't you give up? What is it about me that makes you so persistent?" He asked, his voice rising.

She took a deep breathe, and after a minute, replied.

"There's nothing good about you."

Ouch. That wasn't the answer he was expecting.

"But there's something about you."

He watched her closely as she spoke.

"You're rude, obnoxious...selfish and an overall angry person." She said, the words floating off her tongue easily. Wow, had she been waiting to say this. "You think of only revenge, letting no one get close because you think it's going to ruin everything you've worked for. Yet, you pay no mind to how you're hurting the people around you. You're wishy-washy with you're decisions and you're afraid to gain anything precious that you could possibly lose."

Her words felt like knives, slowly sinking into his skin. Was this really how she felt? When she said she was falling in love with him...was she falling in love with all this?

"You make me angry...and most days I just want to kick you. I hate how you never say exactly what you're thinking...and the fact that you're pain is written so clearly on your face." Her face twisted into a frown. "And for some reason...I still care about you. I want to help you, and be with you...so you don't have to live in hatred and loneliness. You can have people by you...beside you...to help you, and comfort you." Her eyes regained a little emotion. Sadness.

"It's too late." He muttered quietly.

Kalei shook her head. "You say that but it's not true. It's better late than never."

Their eyes met, and he felt his stomach twist into knots.

"This is how I chose to live. I have no regrets." He said, his voice shaky.

Kalei shook her head. He was such a liar. "You do have regrets. Regrets like...not being strong enough to save your family the day they died. Right?"

His eyes widened. Yes...she was right. She usually was.

She placed her hands on her hip. "And you may not regret leaving this village now...but after you kill Itachi...and realize how pointless all the hatred and isolation was...you'll come to regret leaving all this behind." She examined the area around her.

He chuckled softly. "It's not pointless. Not to me."

She looked back at him and sighed.

"Nothing will stop you?" She asked quietly. He just looked at her, face stoic.

A moment of silence.

"No."

She closed her eyes tightly and bit her lip. So trying was pointless. It really was.

"You were always the cold one...but I was never that sure." She said, opening her eyes, a smile on her face.

He looked at her questioningly. She rolled her eyes. "I think you just hide your feelings. But you have them." A small smirk crept onto his lips.

"Maybe."

She giggled a bit and looked up into the dark gray sky. A minute of silence passed. "When the rain falls...it's like heaven's crying." She mumbled under her breath, just loud enough for Sasuke to hear her. She looked back down at him, "Maybe...the sadness can make the happiness more true."

He raised his eye brows.

She shrugged and giggled once again. "When you take care of what you need to...maybe then you can...be..." Her voice trailed off.

"I will be."

Her eyes widened and a smile grew onto his face. "When it's over...me and my...selfish ways...go back to start again." He said in a low, monotone voice, sending chills through her body.

She loved his smile. It was some indication that he was happy. And that was what she wanted. What she truly wanted. She turned around letting a giant sigh escape her. Talking to him felt good. Actually talking. And at least...they weren't on such bad terms now.

"Kalei...what was on that letter?"

Silence.

"My mom passed away."

He bit his tongue.

"But it's okay. Because I thought I was truly alone...but I'm not." Her voice was soft, and sweet...like a child. His expression softened. She really wasn't alone.

"No, you're not." He said, running a hand through his hair.

She turned around and smiled at him, her eyes glassy. "Neither are you."

His chest started burning. No, maybe he wasn't. But that didn't change anything. Yet still...

It was times like these where he really did want to just stay in the village.

"Are you worried?"

"No."

Naruto's eyes widened. That wasn't the answer he was expecting.

"Because I know...he's strong enough to do it. He'll survive." She said, a smile forming on her face. She closed her eyes and took in the night air. Her and Naruto were laying on the grass just outside of his house.

"Oh yeah...that bastard won't die." He said, a chuckle escaping him. Sakura had explained to him the conversation she had with Sasuke earlier.

She thought back on when he left the village. How she was unable to make him stay. That would never change. She could never make him stay here. But just maybe...she would be able to make him come back. After all, leaving memories behind is the hardest thing one can do. Time may separate you...but if your bond is strong enough...nothing can break it.

"He made me believe I can do almost anything." She said quietly as Naruto turned his head to look at her.

"Well you can, Sakura." He said smiling. She opened her eyes and looked at Naruto.

"He'll defeat Itachi once and for all. And he can come home." She muttered. Naruto nodded against the grass.

He wanted Sasuke to stay in the village yes...but it seemed like right now...the best thing for him would be to go find Itachi. He needed it for himself. He had lived for this...and who was he to try and take it away. He truly believed him and Sakura were enough to bring him back to the village after he had accomplished his goal.

"Sakura..."

Silence.

"Just wait."

Her eyes widened.

"Just wait for that bastard. He'll come back. And he'll come back for you!" His face twisted into a grin and Sakura smiled back at him.

"Thank you, Naruto."

"You've done a lot of good for him..." His voice sounded hesitant, and she eyed him curiously. "So...has Kalei."

Sakura's smile faded and bit, her breath growing shallow.

"She has."

Naruto nodded again. "He needs her."

Her eyes widened, heart starting to ache. What did he mean?

"Not in the same way as you...but nonetheless..." He looked at Sakura, her face solemn.

"I know."

He looked up into the stars. "She's...not so bad, Sakura. You could give her a chance."

She giggled. "Yeah right...she hates me. You're just saying that because you like her!!" She said jokingly, watching Naruto's facial expression turn serious.

Oh god.

"N-Naruto..."

Silence.

"I hate how Sasuke pushes aside everything good. First you and...now Kalei...he's lucky."

Her mouth went dry. No way...did he really...

"N-Naruto...Do...do you like her? Do you like Kalei?"

Next Chapter: Dirty Little Secrets