Oh my good God, you guys. I'm so sorry. I completely forgot about my stories here on FF, and I've been uploading everything onto my dA account...granted that this story has only moved along about 2 chapters, and I lost everything I had for the sixth one. Well, if anyone's still following this, which I doubt, I applaud and thank you greatly! I hope you enjoy this chapter as well as the next one!
Although being hand-in-hand with Sasuke had its perks, it didn't make the rest of the trip go by any faster. If anything, it made everything go by in slow motion, almost in a daze. I wasn't sure why- I would assume it would be practically the opposite. But, I wasn't much of a thinker to begin with, despite my recent antics, so I just let my mind wander. Which, as I've recently learned, isn't the best thing for me to do.
I couldn't stop myself as I wondered whether or not this was the best idea- being involved with Sasuke this way. I mean, yes, I wanted this- but did he want it as much as I did? He wanted this, maybe- but to some extent. I had never experienced feelings such as these before, so who was to say that this would even last if it were to happen? I sighed softly, casting my cerulean gaze upwards to the graying sky. It felt like a storm would be coming soon, and that meant we might have to stop to set up camp again. Who knows what would happen then.
I didn't sense the next thing that happened- Kakashi stopped abruptly, his visible eye glinting dangerously as he glared past Sasuke and I. We let go of each other's hands immediately, my face flushing only slightly at the thought of being caught like that. But Kakashi wasn't even paying attention to us, and that sent us into a guarded state. Narrowing my eyes, I looked behind us as well, but saw nothing. "Sensei?" I heard Sakura ask in front of us, and it sounded as if she were uncertain about something. Which would make sense, because I felt as confused as her voice let on.
Abruptly, Kakashi withdrew a kunai, eyes still narrowed as he focused on some distant place. "Bandits," He murmured quietly, enough so that we could register the fact that we were about to be assaulted. Sakura gasped, shocked by the fact that they had gotten past their defenses, which hadn't been too high at the moment. Sasuke sneered, gripping his kunai pouch stealthily as he, too, took out a kunai, looking behind us from the corner of his eyes. I could practically feelthe fight about to begin.
And with that, a pack of bandits struck at us out of nowhere, blades and several other lethal weapons in hand. Kakashi charged forward, just about ready to puncture one of the bandits in the stomach. Sakura stepped back, probably wondering about a practical attack maneuver to take out the bandits with. I, on impulse, charged right along with Kakashi, a low growl passing through my lips as the bandit I was facing dodged my attack easily with his own kunai. I glanced to my left for just a moment, and saw that Sasuke had also gotten into the action, effectively kicking one of the bandits in the head, rendering him unconscious. But I couldn't let my focus slip- these were no ordinary thugs. At the same time, they were ninja. Rogue ninja. As soon as my eyes met my opponent's, he flung himself toward me, kunai aimed right for my chest cavity. I side-stepped him easily, and registered a snapped roundhouse kick into his side. He stumbled, and I took the opportunity to fling a few shuriken at him, which sunk easily into the thin, dirty flesh of the thief.
Suddenly, I was tackled to the ground from behind, and grubby hands were at my throat and shoulders, pinning me to the ground. I was stuck, could barely move- but that didn't mean my hands couldn't. I easily performed my signature jutsu- for all who have yet to figure this out, that's my 'kage bushin no jutsu'- and two clones were immediately at either side of the crook above me, and axe kicked him in the back. I internally shuddered at the sound of bone crunching on top of me and the painful groan that escaped the man's lips, but thought almost nothing of it as I flung him off of me, ready for another attack.
Everything but being tackled again. Was I a target prone to tackling or something? Was it national 'tackle Naruto in a fight' day? Seriously! But...this body felt different. Lighter, more secure. And…good-smelling? Since when do bandits smell like lavender? Oh…wait…only one person I knew could ever smell like lavender and pull it off. It could only be the teme. "Sasuke, what the hell?" I growled as I turned my head to glare at him, but he wasn't even paying a hair of attention to me. What a surprise. He was looking behind us, and suddenly, an explosion arose from where I had been standing.
Sasuke…saved me? From a trap? Well this was new. Not fairly, amazingly new, but it was new enough to shock me. "Sasuke…" I breathed out, but he wasn't done yet. He jerked his head to the side- I noticed his eyes were spinning chaotically with his sharingan- and twisted his legs over me to push at nothing. Or so I thought; a bandit appeared from thin air there, and he was knocked back a few feet, at which point the Uchiha jumped off of me and performed his Pheonix Flowed jutsu, effectively burning the bandit to a crisp. I got up again, looking around to see Kakashi battling the last of the bandits, and Sakura standing over an unconscious one, smiling smugly to herself. I looked back over to Sasuke, and he was glaring down at the ashes at his feet, miniscule flames still licking at the remains. "Teme…you okay?" I asked softly, and he turned his blood red eyes towards me. Nodding curtly, he began to walk away, hands clenched into tight fists, which I could see made his hands much whiter than usual.
Immediately, Sakura ambushed him and clung to his arm, grinning foolishly. Right, sure. Sakura didn't like Sasuke anymore. Of course she didn't. And I believed I had a chance how? I could practically feel my heart sink lower in my chest, but I sighed and put on my fake grinning façade, bouncing over to the rest of my team as Kakashi soon joined us. "Good job, team 7. We'll continue with our journey for about 2 more hours, then we'll set up camp again. We should reach the Land of Waves by sunset tomorrow evening, so get a good night's rest," He said, before turning away and signaling us to follow. We did as told, and this time the walk to our next campsite went a bit faster than before.
After setting up camp and having dinner, which was abnormally quiet today, I retreated for my tent- well, as I've already said before, me and Sasuke's tent. Great. As soon as I walked inside, I took my shirt off, along with my pants, and tried to find my bag with my sleeping clothes. Not that it really made a huge difference to me- I could sleep in my boxers, or with my normal clothes. But, of course, that wouldbother me now with Sasuke around. "Well, what do we have here, kono usuratonkachi?" I heard a voice behind me murmur mockingly, and there was reason behind it, too. I was currently bending over my bag in the corner of the tent, which had been precariously hidden behind my sleeping bag, with my butt facing the opening of the tent. A blush played over my facial features, and I growled something unintelligible under my breath, before standing and facing the Uchiha, crossing my arms over my bare chest. "What do you want, teme?" I practically hissed, my lower lip jutting out slightly to form into a pout.
Sasuke kept his icy eyes one me for a moment longer than necessary- it made me uncomfortable at the fact that it was that obvious- before he shrugged and crossed the tent, gathering his own things. "To change in peace," He replied lowly, peeling off his shirt as he rummaged through his bag for his pajamas. As this morning, I noticed Sasuke's defined stomach features- what, did that last fight just make him even more muscular than before? Soon enough, Sasuke turned toward me and raised his ebony eyebrow again in silent question, arms going to cross over his own ivory chest."See something you like, dobe?" He mocked, a smirk tugging at one of the corners of his lips. I shook my head furiously, looking away as I continued to change. He had to stop doing that, dammit! It was waytoo inviting! After a low chuckle from the Uchiha himself, I finished dressing and set up my sleeping bag in the middle of the tent, not even beginning to wonder of what would happen tonight. Soon enough, Sasuke joined me on the ground with his navy sleeping bag, also staring up at our dimly-lit ceiling; neither of us had decided to turn out the kerosene lantern yet. Although the silence was calming, lulling, even, I felt the need to break it. Something about silence just bugged me, and that was something I couldn't help. "….Thanks for…saving me today, teme…" I murmured, turning my head slightly to see Sasuke's shadowed expression. His skin looked lighter in the yellow light, almost chalky. He didn't turn to look at me.
"Hn…it's nothing new, dobe," He murmured, onyx eyes still looking to the top of the tent with a somewhat-thoughtful glint in them. I could tell he didn't want to talk, but again, the silence would slowly kill me. But miraculously, I could wait-something else held my attention.
After another few moments, I turned on my side so I was facing the ravenette, sapphire eyes dancing across his features. High cheekbones, long eyelashes, smoldering irises, thin lips, raven locks, narrow eyebrows, practically perfect nose. He contrasted himself in so many different ways…it didn't make sense. But I hadn't even realized that I was watching, studying Sasuke again until he turned his head so his eyes met mine. He didn't seem irritated, or bothered, as he had the last time- though of course he was good at covering up his so-called flaws- what he liked to call his emotions. But just now, in this soft topaz light, he seemed so honest, so pure, that not even words could begin to describe or eyes begin to believe. A slow smile found its way onto my lips, and I could feel my eyelids begin to droop. I wasn't that tired, really, but we had already experienced a long day. Delving into Sasuke's eyes this way, it made me want to get closer to him, to allow myself to see deeper into his eyes; his soul, as someone else would say.
But before I could do anything else, Sasuke turned away, the lightest, and probably the only smile I would ever see, gracing his lips. It wasn't like mine, though. It didn't shine true happiness, or allow the same sense of warmth- then again, most of my smiles weren't that way, either. But Sasuke's smile, his miniature, half smile, was…sad. As if someone had just introduced him to a person who was going to die tomorrow, and all he could do was try to smile, but instead felt pity. How…strange. "We should go to sleep…" He murmured softly, his eyes glancing to me from the corners. I nodded, and despite myself, I was frowning. Although the Uchiha wasn't looking in my direction anymore, it was like he knew that I was upset- for some unexplainable reason- and he deftly wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer. "Did you sleep well last night?" He whispered softly into my ear, and I couldn't deny the hot blush that invaded my cheeks. I could feel his face rise slightly, his shoulders shaking- probably from his quiet laughter. Obviously, he could take that as a yes. "Good…" He muttered softly again, and he turned his head to press a not-so-subtle kiss to my temple. I closed my eyes, but smiled all the while, gently turning my head into the crook of his still-lavender-smelling neck. Seriously, how did he get it to smell so good all the time! It was beyond me. I allowed one of my arms to wrap around the Uchiha in response, cuddling closer to his warmth, though I wasn't cold in the least.
After another few moments, I heard him sigh through his nose- he had probably closed his eyes by now- and mumble "Good night…Naruto," into my hair.
My smile grew in the slightest, and I raised my head to press my lips to Sasuke's jaw. "G'night…Sasuke…" I murmured back, my stomach doing a small flip before letting me rest in peace.
In all of this, there was only one little thing that was bothering me.
I still hadn't been able to decide what we had become.