Chapter Two: Black-out. Orochimaru's Hideout.

A/N:

Aww… ARIGATO \ GOZAIMASHITA TO:

- Shashuko the Paisley Maiden

- Hawaiiangurl622

- xGaara'sAngelx

- Kagome395477

- ForeverInTheMoment

I swear, you guys are soo cool!!! YOU RULE MATEYS!! ARRGH!! Random Pirate Moment…

I ADDED A BRAND NEW TECHNIQUE IN THIS CHAPTER!! WOO!!

Manami's Point Of View

"Sasuke…" I whispered.

"Yes?" He asked.

I grimaced. "How could you act as if nothing happened?!"

"Manami, two years ago, that hurt me more than it hurt you," replied Sasuke in a monotone voice.

"It's pretty hard to believe you…" I mumbled.

I reappeared behind him, holding a kunai at his throat.

"You've gotten stronger, Manami," He said.

"I wish I could say the same to you," I muttered.

He took out his katana and in a blink of an eye, I was on the floor, with blood seeping out of my stomach.

"What do you say now?" He asked.

I gasped.

How did he get so quick? I thought.

"Why are you in Konoha anyway?!" I yelled, holding my gut, making sure that no more blood came out.

I began healing myself as he talked.

"I came back to get you, Manami," Sasuke explained.

"And where will you be taking me?!" I yelled once more.

"To Orochimaru-sama," He said, outstretching a hand, to help me up.

I scowled at him. "I won't go to that bastard."

"It's his orders. I have to take you with me," Sasuke said, staring into my eyes.

"I AM NOT GOING TO THAT BASTARD!!!" I screamed.

I did a few hand signs in a few seconds and different types of animals from the feline family came rushing to my side.

Sasuke's eyes slightly widened, from seeing so many animals at once.

There were tigers, lions, jaguars, leopards, cougars, cheetahs, lynxes, caracals, cats and even kittens.

"Nani kore (What is this?)…?" He whispered.

"You aren't the only one who's been training…" I said as two tigers helped me get up.

"These are animals from the feline family… I learned how to call them all at once, I trained with them, and they learned how to fight with me in my battles. This is obviously caused by my two-tailed demon, which is part of the feline family itself," I explained, brushing my self off.

"Manami, it doesn't matter how many animals you call, or how strong you really are, or how you can't fight me," Sasuke said.

"I can fight you!!" I yelled as my temper was rising.

"Then hurry up and stab me, punch me, kick me. Why don't you just kill me? I won't fight back," He said, putting his katana away.

I got angry and punched him, right on the face.

Sasuke landed on the ground, but didn't fight back.

I was even angrier, so I punched him more, but kept him on the ground.

"Why don't you just take out your sword and kill me? Why are you hesitating?" He asked, still on the ground.

My eyes widened.

Why didn't I take out any weapons?

I sat down next to him, breathing heavily.

Why was I hesitating?

"Just as I thought," Sasuke whispered.

I turned to him. "What are you talking about?"

"You can't fight me," He began.

"I CAN fight you… I just couldn't think properly!!" I yelled.

"You can't fight me because you're still in love with me," He said, getting up and facing me.

"Your true weakness," He said, "Is love."

I turned away from him.

"You have no right to say that…" I whispered.

But for some reason, I knew Sasuke was right.

My weakness is love.

I could feel tears welling up in my eyes.

I faced him.

"I'm no longer in love with you, Sasuke Uchiha…" I mumbled as my eyes were getting watery.

"I know that deep down, you're lying, and you do feel for me," Sasuke said.

I grimaced.

"Sasuke… You bastard!" I cried.

I kept hitting my hands onto his chest, but it wasn't hard, as I was weak at the time.

I felt tears running down my cheeks. "You… shouldn't have… hurt me…" I choked.

"Manami…" He whispered.

I collapsed onto his chest.

The sight of him was heart-breaking for me.

To remember that one moment when he left…

Sasuke sighed solemnly.

"Orders are orders…" He said.

I looked up, his face only mere inches away from mine.

"Huh?" I said.

He hit my pressure point and my eyes widened.

"Sa-su-ke…" I whispered as I passed out.

I lay on the ground, unconscious.

Sasuke's Point Of View

Manami fell to the ground and I picked her up bridal style.

The animals she called hissed and snarled at me, but I vanished before they could do anything.

As I jumped to Orochimaru's hideout, I stared at Manami.

She has grown… not only stronger, but more beautiful. It's hard to believe that she loved me. I thought.

When I reached the hideout, or as Orochimaru calls it 'My New Home', I went into my bedroom and lay Manami onto the bed.

I took a seat next to the bed and held her hand.

I regretted leaving her.

I slowly began to fall asleep, still holding Manami's hand.

Manami's Point Of View

I opened my eyes to find myself lying on a bed in an unfamiliar room.

I sat up and found Sasuke holding my hand and his head was resting on my lap.

I quickly jerked my hand away from his and I hit his head hard.

He woke up and I said, "Sasuke, where am I?"

"You're in Orochimaru-sama's hideout," He answered.

"Why did you take me here?!?" I yelled, shaking him madly.

"Orders are orders, Manami. I obey Orochimaru." Sasuke said, taking my hands off his shoulders.

"Why does he wants me here!?!" I said, massaging my head for the massive migraine I was having.

"I don't know, but now you have to go to him, but I'll be taking you there," Sasuke said.

"You may have become stronger, you may have grown, but you're not the Sasuke I know," I whispered.

I looked at him and his eyes were full of sadness and sorrow.

"Manami, I'm sorry, but you should know that I didn't mean to leave you," Sasuke said solemnly.

"Whatever. It doesn't matter to me anymore," I said, standing up.

"I guess I'll just take you to Orochimaru-sama now," mumbled Sasuke.

I shrugged as he took my hand and led me to Orochimaru.

Silence surrounded us as we walked, until a girl smiled at Sasuke and said, "Hi, Sasuke-kun!!"

She glanced at me and sneered, "Oh, is this one of your pests again?"

"She's not a pest and I'd prefer if you don't insult her, Karin," Sasuke glared.

I rolled my eyes as her gaze went down to Sasuke's hand on mine.

Her eyes widened slightly. "Sasuke-kun, your hand is holding hers."

"I know," Sasuke said emotionlessly.

She pouted and said, "Just wanted to let you, Sasuke-kun!!"

She walked away and I asked, "What's this about 'pests'?"

He glanced at me and said, "It's nothing,"

"It didn't sound like nothing to me,"

"Really, Karin's just another fangirl. That's it,"

"You've been playing around with girls, haven't you?"

He faced me and I kept my gaze to the ground.

"Manami, they were fangirls. Fangirls that trail me. Fangirls that are pests to me," Sasuke said.

"Oh," I whispered.

"Are you jealous?" Sasuke slightly smirked.

"N-No. I'm not… jealous." I whispered.

"You are," Sasuke said.

Geez Sasuke, you can see through me like glass, and you don't even have the Byakugan… I thought.

"Whatever," I mumbled.

Suddenly, that girl from before, 'Karin', had come back saying, "Sasuke-kun, Sasuke-kun!!"

We turned around and Sasuke asked, "What?"

"I forgot something!" She smiled.

He shrugged and said, "So?"

Karin leaped onto him giving him a hug.

Karin's hug made Sasuke's hand let go of mine.

And there it was.

A pang of jealousy hit my heart

Karin let go and smirked at me.

I scowled as she walked away.

"Another fangirl, huh? She's pretty upfront," I muttered.

"Don't worry about it. You'll never be replaced in my heart," Sasuke said, stroking my cheek softly.

I slapped his hand away and said, "Cut the cheesy crap. You're determined to kill Itachi, so there's no point in being with me if you have a man to kill."

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"Baka. If Itachi knows that we're in love, then he'll try to kill me to hurt you," I explained.

"We're in love…? Where did that come from?" Sasuke smirked.

I rolled my eyes and tried to fight my blush.

"Hurry up and take me to the snake bastard," I snapped.

He took my hand again and we ended up in a room where it was hardly lit and Orochimaru was sitting on a chair, chuckling as I came in. Sasuke stood next to Orochimaru.

"Manami-chan, how nice to see you again," Orochimaru smirked.

"Don't give me that shit. What do you want?!" I sneered.

"Feisty, I see… Sasuke, what a nice girl you loved," The snake man chuckled.

"Answer the question, damn it!"

"I want you to join me, to gain more power."

"I already have the power I need; I won't work for you no matter what,"

"My, oh my, seems like we have a disobeying female here… Kabuto, please take care of her,"

I glanced at the side of Orochimaru and saw Kabuto come out of the shadows.

"Pleased to meet you again, Manami," Kabuto smirked.

"I can't say the same for you, Kabuto-san," I uttered.

Kabuto came charging at me but I disappeared.

Kabuto looked around.

"Are you going to shoot me again with your bow and arrow? Like what you did in the preliminaries?!" Kabuto yelled as he looked around the room.

I was on the ceiling, hiding amongst the shadows. I ran towards him, so fast that in half a second, I had Kabuto pinned to the floor with me on top, holding my swords against his neck.

I was slowly slitting his neck and he winced as blood came seeping through.

"Manami-chan, I suppose you are right. You have all the power you need. Please let go out Kabuto and I'll talk with you," Orochimaru said from behind.

Without even glancing at Orochimaru I let go of Kabuto.

"I don't need to talk with you." I said, putting my swords away.

"Well then, Sasuke-kun, please take care of Manami-chan," Orochimaru chuckled.

My eyes widened slightly as he pinned me to the wall, he held his katana against my neck.

"Sasuke…" I whispered.

"Manami, I won't hesitate to kill you," Sasuke whispered back.

"How sad, what if Manami-chan dies from her own love? Wouldn't that be shameful?" Orochimaru said.

"Tch. I wouldn't care anyway," I mumbled.

I kicked Sasuke in the gut and ran out of the room.

I ran at neck-breaking speed and managed to get away from the hideout.

I was outside and jumping through the trees until I stopped.

Two reasons: a) I sensed Sasuke's chakra getting closer and b) WHERE THE HELL AM I, ANYWAY?!

I jumped faster through the trees and took out my cell phone.

I skimmed through my contacts until I found the number.

- Gaara

I rang him and he picked up.

"Hello?"

"Gaara-kun? It's Manami,"

"Manami, it's been too long,"

"Don't talk about that right now, I'm being chased,"

"Chased?!"

"I'm near the hideout of Orochimaru's. I don't know where I am and… I'm being chased by Sasuke,"

"Sasuke?!"

"Hai, can you help me? I have no idea where I am though,"

"No idea?!"

"Gaara-kun, you're not my echo,"

"Gomen, I'll try to pinpoint you through the cell. I'll get there a.s.a.p."

"Arigatou, Gaara-kun. I always knew I could count on you,"

And before he could say anything, I hung up and continued jumping.

-x-x-x-x-

In somewhat five minutes later, Sasuke had found me and was trying to knock me out again, but this time, I was dodging him (Of course, I had a few cuts on me, but they were nothing), but all of a sudden, a huge sandstorm appeared.

"Gaara-kun…" I mumbled, shielding my eyes from the sand.

Gaara appeared by my side.

"Manami, are you okay?" Gaara asked, still controlling the sandstorm.

I nodded.

The sand began clearing away and Sasuke stood there almost aghast.

"So, Gaara's here to help you, huh? It doesn't matter Manami," Sasuke said.

Gaara picked me up bridal style and said to Sasuke, "I won't forgive you for hurting Manami,"

Sasuke began charging at us, but Gaara and his sand teleported us away.

-x-x-x-x-

We were at Konoha and Gaara was at the gates, carrying me still.

"Gaara-kun… I'm… fine…" I whispered as I was dozing off to sleep.

"Don't worry about it. Just get some rest, please." He said, looking at me.

I nodded slowly and closed my eyes.

Gaara's Point Of View

I had decided to take Manami to her house, even though I would see a totally freaked out older brother.

I kicked on the door softly, but loud enough to hear, because both my hands were occupied.

Neji opened the door and his eyes widened.

"What happened?!" He asked.

"You'll have to wait until she wakes up, she'll explain, but right now, she needs some rest," I mumbled.

I looked down at Manami's face.

I thought, Manami, you're always getting yourself into trouble. Soon enough, your brother will go nuts worrying about you… but, that's why I like you…

Because you're you.

YOSH! Another chapter finished! I AM IN LURRVE WITH THOSE REVIEWERS!! They make me laugh and smile. Ahh... if only I could have that feeling forever. It would be totally bliss... But now I'm just babbling on and on! Please review and tell me what you think!! Jaa ne!