How Can I Begin to Tell You?

by iEclipse13

Karinami hates Sasuke, and he has no idea why. When they're forced to go on a mission together as a two-man team, sparks fly, but could it be that they just don't understand one another?

2. Chapter 2

AN: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters or settings. I can't quite remember who to give credit to, but the only thing that I made up is Karinami Iruzika and everything having to do with her, including Roka and her lineage. For some reason, I made it so that the characters are 15-16 years old but…they're still Genin. NO they aren't dumb. I just made it that way—Dattebayo! Also, some of the people may be a little out of character. I am not an expert on Naruto. The end.

Noon found me going east from Konohagakure with Duck-Butt Uchiha. No miracles for me. We'd hardly spoken since we'd left Konoha, but I was already steaming mad. Like, so mad I could feel my eyes turning black and little blue-green sparks forming in my fists. If Sasuke hadn't already been aware that I hated his guts, he sure as heck knew now.

"So," Sasuke surprised me by speaking. "The starting point we're looking for is what again? A small town?"

I quoted Kakashi directly. "A small, largely unnoticed town east and slightly south of Konohagakure."

"Hn," was all he said, but I knew what he was thinking about—he wanted to know if Itachi was in one of the two-man Akatsuki teams that had performed the latest outrage.

We walked for several more hours, silent and tightly-strung with anxiety.

"Look!" I finally managed at near sun-down. "I can see the tops of buildings over there!"

"That must be where the Akatsuki stole all that money." Gee, thanks, Captain Obvious. Tell me something I don't know.

"Sure," I offered, hiding my sarcasm. "Let's see if we can find a place to crash for the night there and, in the morning, we'll start following the obvious trail they left. I hope it's not a trap!" Sasuke nodded in silent agreement.

The small town looked quiet and peaceful when we arrived. It was awkward—standing in the midst of an unfamiliar village with only one person you knew. It was like my first day in Konohagakure all over again.

The first person that seemed to notice Sasuke and I was—duh—a teenage girl a few years older our 15. She took one look at me and my mixed symbol and another longer, dreamier look at Sasuke and his symbol and concluded: "You must be the Shinobi who were sent to investigate our issue with the Akatsuki, eh?"

"Yep, that would be us," I nodded. "If we weren't and were actually part of the Akatsuki, you'd already be dead." I pointed meaningfully at the huge demon wind shuriken that Sasuke had strapped on his back and at my kunai pouch on my leg.

"I guessed as much," the girl sniffed haughtily. "So, are you going to go and see Uta-san or what?"

"Uta-san?" Sasuke asked.

The reply was friendly, unlike the one I'd gotten. "She kind of overlooks the town and stuff, like the Hokage or Konoha! You're so lucky you live in such a big, beautiful city and not in a small town like this one."

"Iie, not really," Sasuke said to my surprise. "I don't like living in large cities."

I decided not to agree vocally, though I preferred small villages as well. He didn't need to know. "So-o-o," I cut off the conversation. "Are we gunna go and see Uta-san or not?"

She shot me a death glare. "Hai, of course. Follow me." For awhile we weaved in and out of the crowds silently, but it wasn't long before our guide couldn't take it.

"I'm Yuki Tarakama, by the way. What about you?"

"Uchiha Sasuke," Duck-Butt replied, "and this is one of my cell's teammates, Iruzika Karinami."

"Oh, okay." I couldn't help noticing how Yuki seemed pleased by Sasuke's obvious stress on the word teammates. What, was she worried that we were…together or something? Eew. The girl turned slightly to face me. "You're not from around here." It wasn't a question.

"No," I admitted. "I'm not from Hi no Kuni. I used to live in a village called Umi no Kyuuden, or the Palace of the Sea. My first sensei and adopted guardian Roka and I came here from where we live so that I could be braided into Kakashi-sensei's cell to further my Genin and Chunin training."

"Okay, I get it," Yuki dismissed airily. "Or are you just saying that because you were actually sent her because you needed remedial training with some real Shinobi?"

I growled, my eyes turning black from my Kekkei Genkai. Yuki was about to taunt me further, but Sasuke pushed her aside.

"Watch it," he cautioned roughly. "Touch her while she's like that and your parents will be weeping over your dead body." His Sharingan flared as he grabbed a part of my arm uncovered by a gauntlet and forced my Yuribikari to fade away. Yuki looked scared at my aggravation, but soon diverted her attention back to baka Sasuke.

"Oh, Sasuke-kun, thank you soooooo much! You saved me from such a cruel death. You're so brave, stopping her like you did !"

"Hn," he grunted, ignoring her clingy-ness. "Now are we going to see Uta-san before I'm 80 or what?"

"Hai, hai, of course! Actually, her hut's just across the road. There—the one with the red sign. You can surely make it there without me, tadashii?"

"Hai, we can, but why are you leaving us now? You've come all this way with us only to back out?" Sasuke asked.

"Uh…" Yuki struggled for words. "Actually…Uta…wanted to see if you could find her on your own. She told nobody to help you, which is why you were ignored. But—I just couldn't help it…"

I hissed. "And you still aided us? Now we could get in trouble for your childish, infatuated games!"

Yuki hadn't quite lost her rudeness in her distress. "As long as Sasuke doesn't get in trouble, I don't really care!"

I ignored my anger and turned to my teammate. "Let's go, Sasuke, before she shanghais us into not telling Uta-san what happened." He nodded and began to lead the way across the still-busy street.

"Good luck, Sasuke-kun!" Yuki called fondly after us. I thought she was going to leave it at that, but—"And Karinami-chan?" I stopped and turned to look at her warily. She drew a line across her throat. "Go die in a very painful way."

I forced a smile. "Mochiron, Yuki-chan. Now go be a good little girl and beat it." I was so mad I couldn't stop my words, but she ignored me and scampered off daintily.

Sasuke was waiting in front of Uta's house. "What was that about—fond farewell wishes?"

"Oh, yeah, I totally want to see her again," I said sarcastically. I could swear that Kamo-Oshiri (Duck-Butt) chuckled, but I was already halfway into Uta's home.

"Konnichiha, Uta-san," I called out blindly. The house was dimly lit and the air was heavy with perfume. A threatening bark answered my greeting and a huge Akamaru-like dog bounded in front of Sasuke and I, growling and snarling. Next to me, Sasuke gripped a kunai.

Down the hall, a voice called an indecipherable name. The dog's ears perked up as a shadowy form began to glide towards us.

"Suwaru!" The voice commanded. Obediently, the dog sat.

"Thanks," I sighed in relief. "Now I know how it would feel to be attacked by Akamaru when he's mad!"

"No kidding," Sasuke agreed in a monotone voice, putting his kunai away.

"I am sorry," the voice said. "I did not think you were coming at this hour. I would have made sure that Iwa was chained up."

"Are you Uta-san?" Sasuke questioned.

"Hai, I am. Please, come this way" We were led down the long, dim hall and then into a room full of plush sofas, useless gold baubles, and the even thicker smell of pungent perfume.

"Youkoso, youkoso. Welcome," Uta-san greeted, motioning to the sofas. "Kudasai. Please, sit." Pulling off my backpack, I sank into the nearest raspberry-colored cushion. Uta made sure Sasuke and I were comfortable, then launched into the never-ceasing question, "Ima, onamae wa nan desku ka, anata tachi ryouhou? Now, what are your names, both of you?"

"Iruzika Karinami," I responded.

"Uchiha Sasuke," Duck-Butt replied soon after me.

"Iruzika, you say?"

"Hai, Uta-san."

Uta reached over to pat Iwa—who had snuck in—on the head. "That means you must be related to those of the Inuzuka clan. My cousin's cousin's cousin was an Inuzuka. Iwa was her dog. After she died, Iwa was miraculously saved from his wounds and such and came here to live with me."

"I am not related to the Inuzuka clan by blood," I admitted, "Iruzika is my adopted guardian's name. I just came to use it when he named me as his own."

Uta was wise enough not to ask how I came to be an orphan in the first place. Instead, she drastically changed the subject. "So, to business. You're here to track the Akatsuki that stole all that money, tadashii?"

"Yes."

"The matter is certainly troubling," Uta remarked. "They made no effort to be stealthy. I must caution you as you go on; this could very well be a trap."

"Kakashi-sensei informed us on that," Sasuke told her.

"Good, then it will spare me from explaining." Uta stood up, her flaming orange hair rippling. "You must be very tired. I took upon myself the liberty of arranging rooms for whenever you may need them at our small inn. You may leave tomorrow if you wish. The escape route is just down the street we are on now."

"We may be gone for some time," I confirmed, "but thank you. We passed the inn earlier, so we should be able to find it again." I turned to Kamo-Oshiri. "You ready?" He nodded the affirmative.

"You may know where to go," Uta reminded, "but what would be to prove I sent you? Here, let Iwa go with you. Once you have been led to your rooms, he will come back to me."

"Oh. Uh, okay," I blurted, surprised.

As the three of us turned to leave, Uta-san hailed us again. "Oh, and you two?" We both turned to face her. She grinned. "If you see Yuki, please tell her to restrain herself from helping next time."

Sasuke and I cringed. "Sorry, Uta-san," I apologized, "we didn't know—"

"It is fine," she dismissed, waving her hand. "If anyone is at fault, it is Yuki-chan. Now go. You must rest."

I clasped my hands at my waist respectfully and bowed, then headed for the door. Duck-Butt, who had repeated the gesture, followed me. The perfume's scent was nearly choking.

The crowded streets had noticeably emptied since we'd last seen them. Luckily, Yuki Tarakama—the newest Sasuke-worshipper, obviously—was nowhere in sight. Iwa, determined to carry out his task, barked sharply and half-pranced in a circle to get our attention, then feinted playfully to the left, indicating the route to the inn.

"Ittekudasai, Iwa-kun," I urged, motioning for him to move on. "We'll follow."

Iwa barked the affirmative, turning some heads farther down the street, and bounded off.

I realized belatedly that the Inuzuka dog was way fast. Duck-Butt and I lost him at the first intersection. "Hn, that pampered canine's more agile that he looks," Baka Uchiha admitted.

"Hey, Sasuke, d'you think that I could get traction on one of those roofs? Maybe I could spot Iwa from there—"

"No need," he interrupted, pointing. Uta's dog, noticing our absence, had doubled back to find us and was now waiting a few feet away. Sasuke and I dashed after him as he torpedoed off again.

"Gomen, senpai," I apologized as I half-collided with a 19-ish-year-old in the middle of the street. He just stared at me—like most guys. Roka always said it was my looks. I always thought it was my lack of "looks", but I was beginning to believe him. If he was right…I hated my appearance. Attention is my own personal torture.

"Crap!" Uchiha huffed, stopping so suddenly that I nearly barreled into his back. "Lost him."

We both swiveled around as a giggle emanated from the right shoulder of the street. A group of girls—new additions to Duck-Butt's nationwide entourage—were huddled to the buildings, batting their eyes. Make me barf.

Sasuke displayed no reaction other than a slight acknowledging nod. "Konnichiha," he greeted plainly.

"Sasuke, over there!" I began to quickly chase the reappeared Iwa and Kamo-Oshiri, without a backwards glance at the girls, followed my lead.

"Hey, look, there's the inn!" I gasped. "Thank God!"

"Hn. Uta-san's dog has finally stopped playing tag with us, it seems."

Iwa barked, as if realizing we were talking about him, and trotted through the front door of the building with Duck-Butt and I trailing behind.

The owner of the inn was very short and round, but he had a kindly, good-natured grin. "Youkoso, my young friends," he spread his arms wide as if to embrace us along with the rest of the townspeople. "Shinobi from Konoha are always very welcome here, eh?"

"Uta-san sent us to—"

"Hai, I know why you are here. Iwa does not take to strangers well, so the Lady herself must have sent you. I am always pleased to accommodate guests of Uta-san, especially if they have been sent to help us with our troubles, eh?" He fumbled around with two old brass keys. "For your rooms, eh? I will show you the way there myself. Come along, now, follow old Juro."

As Iwa barked and left, we were led out of the small waiting area into a hallway with several doors on both sides. Near the end of the hall, Juro stopped and motioned to rooms number 13 and 14. "Number 13 for the lady, 14 for the gentleman. Here are your keys. The lady's restroom is down the hall to your left and the men's is down the hall and to your right. If anything is less than satisfactory, you will come and tell me, eh? If I am not around, you can always talk to my son, Akihiko. He should be somewhere in the inn most of the day. And when you leave, if I am not available to bid you farewell and kooun, you can just leave your keys on my desk up front. That will not be any trouble, eh?"

"No sir," I replied. "You have been more than welcoming; thank you."

He waved a hand. "Iie, iie, it is you I should thank. You have come to help us. You left the comfort of your own home to aid a tiny, insignificant town instead of staying where you are safe. I thank you for that."

"Konohagakure is not my home," I muttered sadly, but only Sasuke heard. With a polite bow, Juro left us.

Duck-Butt Uchiha started to open his door, but I stopped him. "Hey, you'll probably need this if we want to get anywhere tomorrow," I pointed out, handing him a bento box from my pack. He would only need one for breakfast; it was common for a layout of food to be kept in hotel rooms in Hi no Kuni if it was anywhere near mealtime. Sasuke nodded wordlessly, finished unlocking his door, and started inside.

"Oyasumi nasai, Karinami-chan," Uchiha bid me good night and shut the door.

I unlocked my door as well and stepped inside. The room was well-furnished and comfortable-looking with sage-green walls and a wood floor with a tidy rug over it. The palate in the corner looked extremely welcoming so, despite my hunger, I slipped off my pack and began to prepare for bed. It was fully dark by the time I set a tiny, portable alarm clock and crawled onto my palate, and I fell asleep almost instantly.

I slammed my alarm off at about 5:15 in the morning. It was gunna be a long day. Pulling on all of my clothes and eating what was supposed to be a late dinner, I stepped outside my room with a sigh. After refreshing myself in the restroom and packing my stuff, I knocked on Baka Uchiha's door.

"Sasuke, are you up?" I asked quietly, not knowing if there were any other guests that I would disturb.

"He is out front," a voice said from behind me. "He was up at about 4:30."

I turned sharply to see the man I had charged into yesterday in the middle of the street. I assumed that he was Akihiko, Juro's son. "Ah, thank you. I would have really wasted a bunch of time just sitting outside of his door."

"I am Akihiko, by the way—"

"Hai, you are Juro's son, tadashii? I am sorry that I ran into you yesterday; we were in a great hurry."

"Aah, it is no trouble, there was no harm done. And yes, I am Juro's son. His only son. But I bore you! Your friend should be right outside."

"Doumo arigatou gozaimasu, Akihika-senpai. Uh, do you know where on the front desk I should put this key?"

"I will take it for you and give it to my father. He is off on an errand."

"Oh," I managed awkwardly. Akihiko gave me the creeps; he was like some guy that wanted to…date me or something. Bleargh. "Okay, here it is then. Tell Jugo thank you for all the things he did for us. The hospitality was amazing. I don't think my palate in Konoha even compares!"

"I will let him know, I assure you."

His smile nearly made me shiver. "Oh…uh…thanks again, then, I'd better just…uh…go now…Sasuke's probably waiting for me…uhm…yeah."

Akihiko gave a tiny wave of his hand and I dashed off, feeling his eyes on my back as I sprinted down the hall.

Jugo, as his son suggested, was not in the waiting room as I quickly passed through. Also as his son had said, Sasuke was coolly waiting for me on the curb. He had his killer emotionless-emo-kid/holier-than-thou face on, which I nearly scowled at. How I kept my composure I do not know.

Well, let's get this one over with…gotta suck it up to the all powerful Uchiha Cockatoo-hair. "I'm so sorry, Sasuke, I didn't know you were planning on leaving so early. I totally would've gotten up earlier if I'd have known—"

"Hn, I was not planning on leaving earlier, I just got up when the day started to wake. I am in no hurry." His words were level and evilly hypnotizing. Gosh Dangit, wasn't my Yuribikari supposed to cancel out his Sharingan?

"Well I'm ready now, so we can go. We're gunna need daylight to track these guys if we want to be sure not to walk into a trap."

Sasuke nodded and began to lead the way back to Uta's house—the trail was in that direction. Reluctantly, I followed him as the sun brushed the rooftops with golden-yellow light. The route that the Akatsuki had taken was indeed very noticeable. Broken sticks, hacked-off tree limbs, scattered leaves, and bent plants were everywhere. It was almost like they had been planning on making their own footpath for us to travel on. Definitely trap material. Sasuke gripped his demon wind shuriken and walked in.

The path weaved and meandered through the dense forest, always wide and obvious. We had been following it for the better part of the day and exhaustion and hunger were beginning to claw at both Kamo-Oshiri and myself.

"There's no sense travelling any on for tonight; the trail just keeps going." Sasuke pointed out. "We should set up camp and get some rest."

"Hai," I agreed, gladly setting down my pack.

Duck-Butt was checking the area for booby traps while I got out the food, and I suddenly noticed that he was staring at me like he wanted to murder me—putting it lightly. His usually calm eyes were nearly blazing with anger. I looked at him sideways and remarked a little rudely, "What are you looking at, Uchiha?"

He literally snarled, "WHY THE HECK DO YOU HATE ME SO MUCH, KARINAMI-CHAN?" Gee, you'd just noticed that I wasn't too friendly with you? Baka.

I justified my angry words with the thought that he had asked. "Why do I hate you? Why do I hate you? Are you blind, idiot? Just look at yourself! A stuck up, arrogant, holier-than-thou, self-absorbed, warped creep like you can't even figure out how much of a butthead you're being? You think you're all that and that every creature under the sun that isn't a guy will fawn over you like a little lost puppy! You think that you're the best and therefore superior to everyone else! You're a cocky jerk! Idiot! Even Naruto isn't dumb enough to think that he's a god, Sasuke-chan!"

His eyes narrowed and his voice dropped to a deadly whisper. "Did…did you just call me a girl?"

I laughed. "Yeah, does that bother you? It shouldn't be news! You're just a little sissy hiding behind your cool ninja kicks. Why don't you just go off to play with your kitties and let me finish this mission all by myself?"

The anger was wiped off of his face; it now registered only shock. I couldn't stop myself, no matter how hard I tried.

"You think that you have the right to live and kill everyone that gets in your way during your little hunt to kill Itachi, hai?" I stopped suddenly. I didn't even want to talk about this—Roka even avoided it. Still…the words just kept coming. "You think that you are the only one that has the right—that is good enough to kill him, huh? You think that just because he ruined your life that you can be blind to everyone else? If all the Uchiha are like you, Duck-Butt, your whole clan put together wouldn't even be able to scratch Kakashi. They wouldn't even be able to scratch me! You think…"

Stop, stop, my heart urged. I was close to tears; Sasuke was pale and still shocked-looking. I recovered, and went off again.

"You think that Itachi ruined your life and your life only." A tear trickled down my cheek involuntarily and I began to choke on my words. "You're wrong, baka. You're wrong. Did—d-did it ever-r cross your min-nd that he hurt others, to-oo?" I shut my eyes tight. "Your brother killed my mother. He killed my unborn brother. He killed my father. He killed me years ago—or at least my heart." I looked up at the surprised Uchiha. "Your. Brother. Ruined. My. Life. I had one cousin—one among my whole family who was willing to take me in when my parents were killed. One! He was almost old enough to adopt me. He would've, too—six years ago, I would've become his daughter/sister. Would have. Thanks to your brother and the rest of his red cloud thugs, my only loving blood-related cousin left on the face of the earth was shanghaied into the Akatsuki—I have to fight against him now. I will never ever get to live with him as relatives again." I sobbed, wiping my tears to no avail. "Your brother killed me, and all you can think about is killing him yourself…"

Filled with rage, I blindly punched a tree so hard I nearly broke my hand, and then collapsed at its base in tears, unable to move. Sasuke said nothing.

*Sasuke's POV*

I couldn't think. I couldn't talk. I couldn't do anything. Scattered thoughts were the only thing my mind could handle.

Itachi had killed her family?

Her only loving cousin had been forced into the Akatsuki?

She thinks I act like a girl and am just a puffball?

She thinks that I'm just a brat?

She's never been truly happy for as long as she can remember?

I blinked. I'd never known…she'd never told me…I considered her slim, forlorn figure, curled up in a fetal position under the tree she'd just near punched into nonexistence. She looked so childlike and helpless—just how she must've felt when my brother killed her family. How had he done it? I shook away the thought.

Glancing at Karinami, I decided to take watch for the whole night and let her cry.

AN: As always rates, reviews, and questions are welcomed with open arms! Thanks so muchness for your time! I hope you enjoyed; I'll update soon. The end.

Mini dictionary:

Kamo-Oshiri: "Duck-Butt"

Suwaru: sit

Youkoso: welcome

Kudasai: please or in this case, please sit

Ima, onamae wa nan desku ka, anata tachi ryouhou: now, what are your names, both of you

Ittekudasai: please go

Konnichiha: good afternoon, or a greeting in general

Oyasumi nasai: good night

Doumo arigatou gozaimasu: thank you or thank you very much