Disclaimer: I don NOT own Naruto!


She didn't know how it started, or even how to end it. It just... happened...

A year... It's been a year since Sasuke joined Orochimaru. Everything was as she predicted. He obtained power, just as he wanted, but did that make him happy?

---

'The birds are today... but it's so foggy...'

Tsukiko usually looked forward to days when Orochimaru let her out to collect herbs and flowers, but foggy days always put a downer on things. It was nearing rain season, meaning a change from the short, fitting kimono, to the longer one in order to keep warmer. The only downside of it getting colder, in Tsukiko's mind, was the fact that the butterflies went away.

'I still need a lily...' She though through the fog. So, through the mist she headed in the direction of the small pond, the only place she knew of that grew the flower she was out for.

The echo of a sparing match reached her ears. Whoever they were, they were fighting at the pond's edge.

'Who would be out now?'

Through a bush, she tried to peek through to see if she could catch a glimpse of who it was, but before she could even do that, they spoke.

"Just come out, I already know you're behind the bush." She was only momentarily surprised before she stood up, coming to face the stare of Uchiha Sasuke, two of them.

'He... he is training with a clone...'

"What are you doing out here?" She only gestured to her basket with a small smile. Without another word Sasuke turned away and resumed sparing with his clone once more. Tsukiko watched as he fought, it was graceful, in a way. Whoever thought that a way to kill can have any elegance?

After awhile she was reminded of her task so she went around the battle area, without disturbing the concentration. Setting the basket of plants at the waters edge, she took a breath before walking across the surface of the water. A few yards out into the water, it floated soundlessly upon the surface of the water.

White edges, slowly closing into a deep point in the center, it was a rare site. Clipping the stem, she lifted the white lily off the water, allowing a smile to grace her lips.

"You came out here for a flower?"

Startled by the intruding voice, Tsukiko lost concentration of her chakra flow and ended up underneath the water. She struggled to reach the surface, but something grasped her wrist and pulled her to a stable surface above the water.

Tsukiko coughed out a bit of water before attempting to catch her breath. She briefly noted that it was Sasuke who had both startled and saved her. She was currently clutching onto his leg for support, so that the rest of her didn't fall back under the water. Her torso down was still submerged in the cold water, but he held onto her shoulder to assure that she didn't go completely under again.

A smirk played across his lips, "You okay?"

With a final cough she nodded, "H-hai, arigatou gozoimasu, Sasuke-San."

"Here," from his crouched position, he handed Tsukiko the lily before hoisting her up in is arms, nearly giving the girl another heart attack.

"All that for a flower..."

'He's really warm,' she noted, even more so now that he's been training and she just fell into a freezing cold pond. Tsukiko's face flushed as they reached the pond's edge without any delay.

Sasuke handed her his yukata top and told her to change out of her kimono so she didn't get a cold. Tsukiko obeyed keeping her head down, hiding her red race from view, as she hid behind a tree to change.

---

Her kimono was still soaping wet, even after she rung out the excess water.

'It'll have to do...'

She only received two spare changes of clothes each season, ruining one was troublesome.

Sasuke's yukata wasn't enough to keep warm, but it was better than her drenched kimono. The tin material came down to her knees and was held together by three ropes, just to be sure.

Tsukiko stumbled out from behind the ancient tree, clutching her previous dress in a bundle. Sasuke was waiting only a few yards away. He looked up as she approached, momentarily eyeing her.

"Come, we have to get back before they get suspicious."

She quickly stashed her clothes beside her herbs and chased after him. Reaching his side within a matter of seconds.

"Uhmm... Thank you for your shirt..."

Tsukiko's face was slightly red, her nose stung from the cold, but was the red really from the cold?

"Whatever..."

He kept his fast pace, she kept up with him, but they kept bumping shoulders. Each time she would rather loose pace with him or take a step to the side, muttering a feeble 'gomen'. Sasuke just ignored it. He wasn't annoyed with the fact that she couldn't walk strait, but the fact that he wasn't annoyed with it.

It wasn't until a few minutes later that he noticed something obvious.

'She's shivering...'

Tsukiko was basically naked under the thin cloth, defiantly not the attire for current season. Sasuke grabbed her wrist. Even just grasping her wrist chilled his arm.

'He's warm...'

She looked up at him as her basket of plants rested on her hip.

'Were his eyes... always so deep...?'

She almost forgot that he still clutched her wrist until he moved it behind him and onto his shoulder in a quick motion.

"Eh?"

Sasuke hoisted the thin girl up on his back. Startled, she almost dropped the basket, but managed to secure it with her free hand.

"Idiot, you could freeze to death if you don't say anything."

He started to walking again, a bit faster than before. Tsukiko watched the passing gravel, "Gomen..."

Her shaking ceased; he was radiating heat. She rested her head against the junction of his shoulder and neck, with her ear against it, she could hear the 'lub's of his heart. No other sound was heard, the birds made not a noise.

It was almost peace full...

---

"You're finally back."

Kabuto awaited at the entrance. A queer smirk appeared on his lips as he noticed Sasuke holding Tsukiko.

"Did you two have fun on your outing?"

Sasuke didn't say a word, but allowed Tsukiko to dismount his back.

Kabuto tilted his head to Tsukiko's direction, slightly. "What happened to her? She fall into the lake..."

The only reply he received as a downward gave to the ground from Tsukiko and an aurora of annoyance from Sasuke.

Observing that his remark hadn't the effect he wished, his smirk transformed into a frown. "Orochimaru-Sama is looking for you, Sasuke-Kun. I suggest you clean up and meet him in the arena as soon as you can."

"He doesn't like to wait..."

"And Tsukiko-San," she grasped her belongings tighter to her form, daring not to look up. "You better come with me... It's time for your check up..."

He didn't like the tone in Kabuto's voice. He moved forward, pulling Tsukiko with him in the process. Sasuke nudged Kabuto aside, purposely, a glare implanted on his features all the while.

The pair left Kabuto standing idle outside the hideout, without a word.

Tsukiko relaxed as soon as Kabuto's presence left her mind.

"Thank you..."


Thank you so much for reading, and I am sorry for the lack of updates! I thank Providentia, Peachie-Trishie, imm0rtal, NyNyWorldWide, and Princesa de la Luna for reviewing in my past chapter! Your reviews really allow my inspiration to expand. I hope to hear from everyone again! (And I am sorry for the delay....)

NOTE: I will be unable to update for this week, and the next six weeks due to final exams and my vacation to Japan. I am sorry for the inconvenience, but I can guarentee you all that I will update again as soon as I return in early August/ late July. Again, my apologies!

-Sin