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.
My breath caught in my throat, but I choked out a hoarse but whispered scream. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
Sasuke just stood there, gaping, seemingly surprised that I'd actually busted in.
Trembling all over, I forced out a different question in the vain hope that he would answer. "Where are you going?"
"Away," he said in a voice that was just that—far, far away sounding, as if he was hypnotized.
"Away WHERE?" I shrieked, my voice nearing a pitch that could practically break glass. He just looked at me robotically, not answering, still somewhere in the confines of his mind.
"Sasuke where are you going?"
He finally seemed to snap out of his dazed state. "You don't need to know."
"What if someone needs to find you?"
Uchiha glanced at me with stunning intensity, mouthing my greatest fear. "I'm not coming back anyway. If they need me, too bad."
"Where are you going?" I asked again, hopefully for the last time. Of course, he didn't answer, but—a revelation hit me. "Oh, no," I breathed. His curse mark. Orochimaru had said that Sasuke would, without fail, come to him looking for power…
"Sasuke, you aren't—"
He smirked, cutting me off. "Who are you to tell me where I can and cannot go?"
I trembled even harder. This was not happening. "You can't go, Sasuke, Orochimaru is tricking you! You won't be able to defeat Itachi by killing people and committing murderous deeds like that snake! …You'll end up just like your brother!"
"I am an Avenger. I've said it before. I will do whatever it takes to take Itachi down."
I was close to tears now. "You're crazy! You would just abandon us? Kakashi, Naruto, Sakura…what about me, baka, don't you care what we feel? So what? You need some more training! That doesn't mean that you have to run off and join the freaking butt-bow crowd!"
His mouth twitched, but I couldn't tell if it was to smile or to frown. "'Butt-bow crowd'?" He remarked. "I've never heard that one before."
"Sasuke," I begged, "don't do this. I…I don't want you to go." I sniffled, realizing that I had come to care for him more than I'd like to admit.
He looked surprised at my confession, and then composed himself with difficulty. "I have to," he stated plainly.
I couldn't believe it. Was he so blind as to not see that people actually cared about him even if they chose to not show it every single second of their lives? Feeling hot, angry, salty tears roll down my cheeks, I put on a noble face and decided to face the facts with bravery and cold-heartedness that I didn't have.
"Fine then," I seethed, making my voice as steady as I could. "Just leave. We don't give a d*** what you do with your life so go on, be a jerk and betray everyone that has ever even considered you an acquaintance. I mean, it's your life to live, right? Go live it. Kill some people. Grow strong. Turn into a maniacal freak show just like Orochimaru and one day," I held up a finger, cursing silently that it was shaking with rage and hurt, "maybe I'll be the one to beat the holy crap out of you and watch you as you die. Maybe then you'll realize that power doesn't make a ninja a winner. Power makes a ninja a conceited, self-absorbed, killing machine that knows nothing of friendship." I backed outwards, towards the hall. "Sasuke…"
He raised an eyebrow and muttered something weakly that sounded like, "Yes?"
My eyes turned dead black, and more drops of saltwater flowed down my face. "GO AND DIE!" I screamed, unable to hold back my sorrow, and fled back to my own room, collapsing in a heap of tears.
*Sasuke's POV*
I was stunned. Had she really just…told me to die? Was I really that…
A part of my brain shut down the thought and forced me to mechanically pick up my pack and start to walk out of my room and down the hallway. As soon as I got outside and managed to walk a little ways away from the dorms, I was ready to get away, to be free, but…something stopped me. An invisible string of regret held me where I stood, steadfast against the urges to flee the city.
I sighed, and looked up at the window that was Kari's. Somewhere in my heart, I knew I couldn't leave. That was why…that was why I had tried so hard to get out before she could find me. Because if she told me not to…I could never leave. I just couldn't.
Come on, here's your chance! The devilish, power-hungry side of me hissed. Get out of here, before someone else finds you! I took one step towards the gates, and another pang of remorse hit me head on.
Don't go, my inner angelic figure pleaded. Kari is so hurt! Did you see her? She cares about you, Sasuke, go back…go back…
Cussing violently, I rubbed my temples. The internal battle was giving me a migraine, and I was getting nowhere.
On one hand, you'll be able to defeat Itachi, my neutral voice said, but on the other, you'll have people that care for you. The choice that could change lives right here in your hands. So, what'll it be? Revenge? Friendship?
"Couldn't you offer some tips and be helpful for once?" I hissed, cursing the situation.
I'd like to watch this one play out, the Voice mused. No surprise there. Gritting my teeth, I took another emotionless step towards freedom.
Get out of here! The fiendish conscience barked at me.
Stay, the peaceful side moaned, sounding as if it were about to cry.
Another step. A few more and I could duck into the darkness of an alley. Leave? Wait? My mind raged in an internal battle, locking forces in a painful clash of anger and remorse.
I took a step back towards the buildings I had just left. Yes? No? Another step back. There was no way. I couldn't leave. I couldn't—
She'll never forgive you, my mind cackled. There's no sense in going back—
"DAMATTE!" I roared, squashing the voice. Clenching my jaw, I turned around. I began to walk back. Forgiveness from Kari or no, I rationed, no human that has an ounce of sanity left in their ever-loving mind could do this to those who care. That left me thinking that Itachi was demented. But I could deal with that.
As I neared my teammate's room, I found myself wishing that there were a hundred more flights of stairs between me and her. She had to be so ticked. Well, might as well get the black eye over with… I took a deep breath, looked at the ceiling, and nudged the door ajar.
Karinami was huddled on the bed, not facing me, looking out the window like it held the answers to everything. The only sign that she was alive was her ragged sobbing gasps of air that made her whole body quiver. Aah. This was not good. It took a lot to make her cry, and she was practically bawling.
I paused in the doorway, hesitant, but finally shook away my hesitation and stepped up to the palate. "Kari?" I asked, trying to sound concerned—which I was.
Her whole body went rigid, like when you stick a cat into a bathtub full of soapy water, but she didn't answer.
"…Gomen nasai," I looked down at my shoes, ashamed. There was still no reply; Kari just buried her face into her knees. Taking a breath, I went on.
"I know that…this may sound really, really…dumb, but I…I never really…" my voice trailed off. I was just making a fool out of myself. "Okay, scratch that. Straight to the point: I'm a total jerk. I thought…if I could just kill him—Itachi—maybe I would be good enough. Maybe I could face the world and say: "hah, in your face, I'm not the useless little brat that ran away from my brother years before." I wanted to prove that I could win, but…he's always better than before. He advances as fast—if not, faster—than I do, so…I needed more power. I needed…something.
"But…I've come to realize that that something doesn't require gallivanting off to a pale-as-the-dead snake for emotionless training…there's more than that." I rested a hand on Kari's shoulder. "And…now…I guess that I finally realize what made me realize…that…well…that needed something other than training…was you. I've come face-to-face with my regrets of leaving just now and…it dawned on me…" my eyes wandered to the window, gazing at the moon in its milk-white luminescence. "I sure as heck can't abandon this town if you're in it."
This statement provoked a response from my teammate. She lifted her head off of her knees slowly, astonished, and turned to look at me with wide, ice-blue eyes that were pale red from crying. "What?" She choked out.
I met her gaze evenly. "Gomen nasai, Iruzika-chan," I apologized again. "I've been such a…a…pig. A selfish, arrogant, cold-shouldered pig. I…just want you to forget what happened. I swear, I will never leave you. Please…will you forgive me?"
She blinked sluggishly. "Why…why wouldn't I?"
"Uh, I don't know, because I'm the biggest slime ball in all of history?"
"Well, of course, then," she smiled a tiny bit. "Just 'cause you'll admit it."
And then she burst into tears again. This time, I was more inclined to think that it was from happiness instead of utter grief. Attempting a comforting older-brother-y approach, I sat next to her on the bed, half-hugging her awkwardly.
And then I heard it.
"Sa-su-ke!" A voice called from down the hall. Naruto?
The shout came again, closer this time, and I braced myself. Here came the tsunami of questions. I could just picture him: "Whoa, Sasuke, why the heck are you in Kari-chan's room? Oh, wait, why the heck are you sitting on the bed with her and—HOLY CHEESE AND FRAP, SASUKE, WHAT THE HE** DID YOU DO TO MAKE HER CRY?" Yep. I was in for it.
"I'm in here, baka," I said evenly, resigning to my fate. Sure enough, the blonde ninja waltzed in wearing pajamas and a ridiculous sleeping-cap, his blue eyes burning with curiosity.
"What do you want, Naruto?" Here comes the punishment—
"What the heck happened to your door?"
Oh. My. Gawsh.
*Karinami's POV*
It had been about a week since my little emo-sob-fest over Sasuke. Luckily, we convinced Naruto that he had kicked the door off its hinges while sleepwalking, and the rest of the cover up was simply not mentioning why Sasuke had to unpack all of his clothes the next day. Even Kakashi-sensei didn't look suspicious.
My favorite thing to do at night other than photograph the moon through leafy tree branches is, hands down, watching the stars. Sasuke was aware of this, which explains how he found me on that night as I sat on the roof and watched the sky.
"Hey," he greeted plainly, copping a seat next to me.
"Hey," I replied, equally monotone in sound. He gave me a glare like: don't even go there, honey, or you're skating on thin ice. I just grinned.
"Man, I'm glad that whole thing with the door blew over," he admitted, leaning back.
"I was sure somebody would notice the distinctive heel-mark gouged into the surface," I admitted. "But that may've just led them to think that Tsunade-sama had gotten drunk and accidentally blew up the door."
Sasuke shrugged in a neutral agreement. "Maybe."
We sat in silence for awhile, the twinkling stars reflected in our eyes. Somewhere across a few streets, a couple was loudly discussing the new "Make-Out Paradise" movie.
"You remember what I said last week, about never being able to leave as long as you're in Konohagakure?" Sasuke asked suddenly.
"Uh, yeah."
He paused, as if he was just making sure that I could recall his words. "…I meant it, I'd like to have you know. Every word."
"I thought so, but—"
"I love you," he interrupted, and my heart decided to skip a few beats. I blinked and could see him slightly looking away, like he was sure I would slap him across the face.
"But—how—?" My face must have been a mask of disbelief, because he laughed; a real, you're-lame-but-it's-funny Sasuke laugh. When he finally looked at me, his mouth was tugged up in the trademark smirk, an amused glint in his eye as he leaned in to kiss me.
"How can I begin to tell you…?"
AN: THE END! So, did you all like it? I certainly had fun writing it, so I hope you enjoyed! Comments and questions are just one click away, so send you're opinion please! (Really) the end!
Note: If you would like to see me write a fanfiction with Kari and a certain character (male only, please), just send me a P.M. The fanfiction pairings that I am currently working on will be posted on my homepage to avoid multiple requests for a character I'm already in the process of writing. If you would like me to work on a fanfiction for a different anime or manga, P.M. me as well but I can't ensure all of those will be fulfilled at the moment, especially if I've never heard of or read/watched the anime/manga. Thanks!
Mini dictionary:
Gomen nasai: I'm so sorry
Damatte: shut up