Here's chapter four too!

I own nothing of Naruto only Ann.

Chapter FOUR: That's Not for You to Decide

Tossing a glance at Sasuke as we walked down the small path I let out a silent breath. How was I supposed to start this?

'So, can you tell me about your experience with this Orochimaru fellow?'

'It couldn't have been THAT bad! Come on!'

'I'll be here for you whenever you need a shoulder to cry on! Just lean on me! When you're not strong!'

Scenarios and stupid lines kept popping in my mind that sounded either too corny or too uncaring. Nothing was coming out right and the more I thought about it the more I was getting irritated and the more I was getting irritated the more I wasn't focusing on what was happening right then and the more I wasn't focusing on what was happening right then the more likely I was to miss something or get in trouble.

Well, I got in trouble.

A very dumb thief jumped from above right on top of me. Not literally but near enough to me that he didn't have to move any closer to hold a dagger to my neck.

"Don't try anything if you don't want your fried to get hurt!" It was the usual hostage spiel. Wonderful. Sasuke slowly turned around to face us. "You hear me!? Now, I want you to slo-" We were both caught by surprise. This was the first time I had ever seen something like this. His eyes rather than being their normal were now red. The thief's hand dropped from my neck as he stepped aside and towards Sasuke. Sasuke's eyes never left his. Staring in a mix of utter amazement and intense fear I continued to watch. The thief stood still after getting away from me then began to twist and contort oddly. His hands clenched his head grabbing fistfuls of his thin brown hair. The dagger fell to the ground.

"Get out of my head!" the man screamed. Falling to his knees he continued to thrash pulling at his hair as if that would drag out the demon within. "No! Get out of my head! It hurts!" I wanted to say something but it was like a massive power was holding me down. I couldn't move. I couldn't speak. I was frozen to the bones but shaking uncontrollably. What was this atmosphere? It had changed so suddenly, as soon as Sasuke's eyes changed.

Sasuke moved forward kicking up the dagger with a smooth nudge of his foot. With a swift movement and joker grin there was a whipping sound in the air as the metal kissed the man's throat. My breath caught as blood spewed from the open slice and onto Sasuke. The blood drained from my face. The body swayed and was about to fall forward. A harsh laugh erupted from this mad man. No…not harsh. I couldn't even describe it. After that I don't know what happened. There were more whipping sounds, more slashes, more blood.

So much blood.

I had turned away and began gagging.

Even though I came from a military family I didn't like the idea of killing or war. I had seen and heard what it could do to people from my mom and my friends. My friends' parents overreacting to the slightest sounds that might remind them of a shooting gun or bomb, dropping to the ground saying and doing things as if they were back on the warfront. Adults having nightmares of their experiences from killing the person in front of them to surviving an explosion. Fathers sitting by their son's bedsides holding their hands, telling them it was alright to go repeatedly until they finally did go. Bodies of people no older than me wrapped heavily head to foot in bandages some missing legs or arms or both, strapped to beeping machines telling everyone that they were still alive. It was a part of my world and I hated it.

But this was the first time I had ever seen someone die in front of me.

It was different.

Entirely different.

I looked back at Sasuke. The bloody knife was still held in his equally bloody hand as his head slowly rose from the mutilated body in front of him to me. At the moving of his head I immediately looked away. I wasn't going to get caught by those eyes like that man had.

"Sasuke, that's enough. He's dead already." He didn't say anything. "Please. Say something." Still nothing. I finally had the courage to look at where he was standing. I wouldn't look at his face, only his feet to see if he was still there. I looked only to see the bloody corpse where he left it.

He wasn't there.

I took half a step forward getting ready to see if I could track him, but I didn't have to.

Sasuke was there alright.

He was right behind me.

"First time seeing someone killed little girl? Are you surprised by how much blood a person's body could hold?" he teased. I tensed. "It's quite an exhilarating thing knowing just how fragile a life could be." There was a loud malevolent laugh that boomed from behind. When he finally finished I felt his words by my ear. "I know what you're here for. Don't think that I'll let you get away with it." Oh, really? Slowly I twisted my neck to face him my eyes trained on looking at the lower features.

"That's not for you to decide. It's Sasuke's choice, not yours," I proclaimed confidently. It was Sasuke's choice. The lips pulled into another joker grin.

"I am Sasuke. I am Sasuke and Sasuke is me. We are one in the same. How do you plan to get rid of me without getting rid of him?" I stared at his lips. No…this wasn't Sasuke. The desire for power and vengeance may have created this thing, but he could change again. He just needed that helping push. This…nightmare wasn't going to have his way with Sasuke any longer.

"You are not Sasuke and he is not you. If this Orochimaru was able to make you than I'll be the one to destroy you." I met his red gaze. "I promise you that." Those red eyes pierced my soul. I was worried that he might do something to me, much like what he did to that thief. If you wanted my honest feelings, I was frightened, but not of Sasuke. I was scared of this demon that wanted control. The red wavered fading to the familiar onyx eyes. He staggered backwards.

"What…have I done?" Whirling around I watched as he continued to back away dropping the knife to the ground. He stared past me and at the body that he…no, the nightmare had made him deface. "Damn it…Not again!" Next thing I knew he was speeding off in the opposite direction of me. I started after him.

"Sasuke!"

I crashed and stumbled through the trees and bushes calling out his name over and over. That was when I realized something. I wasn't just chasing him because I didn't want to be alone in this world or that I had to help him in order to get back home, I just…He shouldn't have to be alone after doing such a thing. He shouldn't be alone period.

Then, if matters couldn't get any worse, they did.

I stopped panting out of breath. I absolutely detested my endurance especially up against a person like this. I stood there hands on my knees to catch my breath before taking off again. When I was about to break out in a run once more, I was stopped by a figure standing in front of me.

He was deathly pale with dark hair that only made his skin even whiter. He was tall, not as tall as Sasuke but close enough. I felt something strange in my gut.

This guy was different, dangerous.

I needed to get out of here.

I looked at his cat-like yellow eyes.

I regret that so freaking much.

Inhaling sharply I felt like I couldn't move again. I just felt an overwhelming fear engulf my body. A smile broke across his lips.

"You won't be his saving grace."

I was scared. I was scared freaking, excuse my language, shitless. It felt like I was dying slowly, so slowly. I can't remember exactly what happened only that I wished someone was with me. I didn't want to be scared anymore.

I actually felt like I wanted to die.

He heard a scream through the wind that blew by his ears. Skidding to a stop he turned around to the source. The scream didn't end and even when it did it was followed by another one. That could be only one person.

Ann.

Sasuke's feet were just about to sprint to her when he felt a sudden wave of unwanted pleasure run through his body. 'Just listen to that music,' he heard in his head. Clenching his teeth he willed himself to focus. He had to go back to her. She was helpless out here. 'Why should you? You hardly know the girl. Just enjoy the music and let her die.' Sasuke pushed his legs faster refusing the feeling to stop them. The scream cracked and lowered.

No.

Not yet.

He had heard her words earlier when he wasn't in control. He heard her confident, hopeless promise and seen her brown eyes look into his paying no mind to the activated Sharingan.

She was able to do that for him.

The least he could do was pay it back.

Sasuke saw her body lying on the ground feet in front of him. "Ann!" He landed next to her. "Ann!" Breathing a little hard from running away then back he pressed his fingers against her throat. She still had a pulse. He rested his hand on her stomach. She was still breathing albeit shallowly. What happened to her? Looking at her face he noticed thin streams of tears from the corners of her eyes.

"No…please…" she whimpered miserably. "Stop hurting them…" Closing his eyes he picked her up and cradled her in his arms. Orochimaru. He had found out about her.

I woke up to the sound of running water. It was a nice, calming sound. I was waking up in random places a lot lately. Rubbing my eyes I turned my head to see Sasuke's back. He stood in what looked to be a bathroom.

"Sasuke?" I croaked. Why was my voice so hoarse? I brought my hand to my throat and massaged it a bit. I wasn't sick, but it hurt like crap. Why did I sound so weird?

He came towards me and sat down on the bed beside me. He picked up a mug from the nightstand of some steaming tea and handed it to me.

"Here. Yuko-san said for you to drink this. It should help your throat a bit." I took a small sip. Wow… That was some good tea. It was probably tea with a little bit of honey in it. I could already feel it soothing my ragged throat. Sasuke waited until after I had drank a bit more of the tea before beginning his interrogation.

"Do you remember what happened?" I thought for a moment. I remembered the thief and the killing…then he ran off and I chased after…then…

"I…don't know," I croaked once more. "I just remember that…incident then running after you. Next thing I know I'm here with you." He stared at me in what I wasn't sure. Pity. Humor. Reluctance. Fear. Anger. Hatred. It was the usual tornado of feelings.

"I don't know why," he began, "but you're different. When I'm with you…" He shook his head. "I don't see how you can do what you do." I brought the tea back to my lips.

"One person can make a difference. You just have to let her try." That was when he smiled. Not that bitter smile, but a real one. It looked nice, really nice and absolutely right. My own smile grew.

"You're smiling!" The smile never wavered.

"I told you. I don't know what you're doing to me."

"I hope you don't mind."

"No, I don't." I laughed, or…tried to laugh.

"Good!"

"The key to change…is to let go of fear."

-Rosanne Cash