Chapter 2: Sasuke

"Kitsune. Kitsune get up. You'll be late for class." Kanji tipped his cup and poured out some of his sake on his sister's head. Kitsune instantly sat up.

"Kanji! Get out of my room!" she screamed as she chased her brother out of her sacred space. Kitsune leaned against her door and exhaled. Then quick as a wink Kitsune raced around her room like a small tornado throwing on her clothes and grabbing her bag. Once out of her room she completely forgot to make her lunch as she sped out of her house. Down the road she raced until she was in sight of the academy. Then at the doors Kitsune doubled over panting. She heard the patter of feet; then someone slammed into her. Kitsune rolled over and, trying to sit up, smacked foreheads with Sasuke.

"Sasuke?" Kitsune asked.

"Kitsune?" wondered Sasuke.

"What are you doing here?" They both asked at the same time.

"Late for class." They both said again both in answer to the other's question. They smiled a little at each other and giggled slightly. Kitsune stood and brushed off her pants.

"Well since we're here shall we go in?" Kitsune asked. "I doubt my brother would be happy if I skipped class on my second day." Sasuke nodded. Together they walked to their classroom. When they opened the door the noise from inside instantly ceased. They climbed the stairs to their seats and sat down. Somehow they began small talk, ignoring their classmates' stares.

"Did you finish the homework?" Sasuke asked. Kitsune's expression became confused then shifted to alarm.

"There was homework?"

"No." Sasuke said smoothly. Kitsune punched him in the arm. "Hey. What was that for?"

"For making me freak out." Kitsune said opening her bag and bringing out a book. Sasuke tried to read the cover but it was in code.

"What's that?"

"A book." Kitsune said not looking up. "You should read one sometime." Irruka sensei entered the room and began to give them a lecture.

"No way, really?" Kitsune cracked the smallest of smiles.

This routine continued for more than a week. It soon became natural for Sasuke and Kitsune to walk to class together then one day-

"Want to come over to my house after class?" Kitsune asked during their break.

"Sure." Sasuke said smiling.

"Great." Kitsune said. After class Sasuke walked with Kitsune to her house. Kitsune opened the door of her house and called, "Kanji, I'm home! Sasuke's here. Come on in." Sasuke followed Kitsune inside. The room was dark with the blinds pulled down over the windows but Sasuke could still see Kitsune's brother Kanji, sitting on the floor in a male version of a kimono, drinking sake.

"Hey Kitsune. Oh, you must be Sasuke. Want some sake?"

"No." Kitsune said striding toward the kitchen. Suddenly Kanji began to laugh.

"Hey, Kitsune want some Sasuke?"

"What?"

"Hey sake want some Sasuke? You can have it warmed up or cold."

"Don't mind him, he's probably drunk by now. Can I interest you in some food?" Kitsune asked Sasuke. Sasuke kept a wary eye on Kanji.

"Sure, what do you have?" he asked.

"Um… Kanji what did you do with all the normal food?"

"I had to make room for sake. It's in the pantry." Kitsune sighed and somehow conjured some eatable food. She handed a plate of it to Sasuke and they sat down on the porch together. Sasuke took a handful of the food and munch it silently.

"Sasuke, I have something to tell you. You probably already know this but I'm not a Leaf Village ninja. My name is Kitsune Okami, I am a ninja from the Village Hidden in the Dark."

"I knew dark ninjas existed!" Sasuke exclaimed pumping his fists in the air. Kitsune smiled a little at Sasuke. She liked his enthusiasm even if she didn't share the emotion.

"Yeah. We're not just stories made up to keep little children in line." Kitsune looked up at the sky. It had just begun to get dark and now the stars were beginning to come out.

"Hey," Kitsune asked, "maybe you should stay the night." Sasuke looked a little surprised.

"Spend the- what?"

"It's getting dark. Going home now could be dangerous." Kitsune shrugged getting up. "Excuse me for caring."

"No, no." Sasuke grabbed for Kitsune's hand. "That's not what I meant. I'd love too. I get the couch?"

"Well you're not sleeping in my room that's for sure."

"What!" Kanji hollered from inside the house.

"So that's how I can sober him up." Kitsune muttered. Kanji dashed out of the house and warped his arms around his sister like she was his teddy bear. He rested his flushed face on Kitsune's shoulder, which told Kitsune and Sasuke that Kanji was still drunk.

"Yur not gonna git mah little sizter." He slurred. Kitsune twisted out of her brother's arms.

"Come on Kanji you need to lay down now." Kitsune guided her brother into his room then prepared the couch for Sasuke. She handed him a pillow.

"Goodnight Sasuke. See you in the morning." With that Kitsune went into her room and closed the door.

Kitsune opened her door and crept out to the porch, passed the sleeping Sasuke, her violin and bow in hand. She lifted the violin to her chin and began to play the tune of a lullaby her mother had once sung for her before bed every night so Kitsune had learned the lyrics. She took a deep breath and began to sing.

Sasuke was awakened by the sound of a mournful violin. He recognized the melody as a lullaby his mother sang to him every night, a song known only to the Uchihas. Then another sound reached his ears, that of the singer:

"Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing,

Onward! The sailors cry;

Carry the lad that's born to be King

Over the sea to Skye."

Sasuke sat up. The door to the porch was open and Sasuke could make out the shape of Kitsune. Sasuke got up and walked over to the sliding door.

"Where'd you learn that song?" he asked suddenly surprising poor Kitsune. She whirled around suddenly nearly hitting him with her bow and violin.

"Sasuke? Did I wake you?"

"Yeah. Where did you learn that song?" Sasuke asked again. Kitsune sat down on the porch.

"My mother taught it to me when I was young."

"What was her name?" Kitsune had to think for a minute.

"Sana. Sana Okami." Sasuke's eyes widened.

"My mother had a sister named Sana. I remember that she got married to a man named Lord Kasi Okami." Now it was Kitsune's turn to have widened eyes.

"That was my father's name. Lord Kasi." Kitsune looked off into the sky like she was trying to remember some dream she had had long ago.

"I guess that makes it cousins." Sasuke said smiling.

"So it does." Said Kitsune coming out of her reverie. "Well, goodnight. It's late and I must go to bed." Kitsune stood leaving her newly found cousin outside standing on the porch watching her retreating back.

"Goodnight cousin." Sasuke whispered as he went back to the couch.