Chapter X: "I Must Go Today"...
Sasuke woke to the smell of food.
He sat up, and saw Nari with the tray of food, and he smiled to himself.
"Good evening Sasuke-kun! How are you now?" Nari gave Sasuke one of her winning smiles, which made Sasuke reconsider the argument his inner-self had presented to him two hours ago.
"I'm feeling invigorated!" Sasuke flashed a grin, and then picked up the spoon without dropping it, and ate the food slowly, talking with Nari about her day.
"Well... We got the herbs up today, and the chicory. We also pulled weeds in the small field in the back. We're prepping it to be used for more herbs." She said.
"You guys where busy today." Sasuke replied.
"We have a lot more to do tomorrow. Maybe you'll be able to help us!" Nari said, with hope in her eyes.
"If I can help you, then I must be on my way, because I have something I am doing. I must avenge my clan..." Sasuke said, his eyes darkening as he said this.
"Your clan...?"
"Yes... My brother killed my entire clan, and I am the only one who can avenge my family. He killed our parents!" Sasuke's voice became icy as he mentioned this.
"Oh..." Nari replied.
"Hn." Sasuke said quietly.
"How horrible..."
"I hate that man with my whole soul. I need to find him, and kill him, to avenge my family..." Tears started to fall down Sasuke's face, running down his chin, to land on the sheets.
"Oh, Sasuke-kun! I'm so sorry to hear that!" Nari said, pulling Sasuke into a gentle hug, rubbing his back to comfort him.
"Nari... I have something I should tell you..."
"Yes Sasuke-kun?"
"Um...I..." Sasuke didn't want to throw this on her, and then leave tomorrow.
"Never mind..." Saskuke finished.
"But Sasuke!" Nari said.
"No... Sorry, I can't..." Sasuke said in a sad tone.
"What is it...?"
"Nothing..."
"But...!"
"Really, it is nothing... I just got an idea, but I seemed to have forgotten it..."
"Hmmm. Was it something I said?"
"No Nari, it wasn't you. It was me..."
Nari released him from her hug, with a slight look of disappointment on her face.
"I understand that you have to go... But I want you to stay here... I'm going to miss you Sasuke!" She pleaded with him.
"I'm sorry... I can't stay... I have to finish the job that I started years and years ago..." Sasuke shook his head, and a single, shining tear fell from his eye, and landed on the palm of Nari's hand.
"You and I... Sasuke. We... I like you Sasuke!" She said, putting her hand on his shoulder, and giving it a gentle squeeze.
"Nari, I can't say how much I'm thankful that you helped me, but I can't drag you into something that isn't your problem... We would never be able to stay together... I might die, and you'd be sad. I couldn't do that to some one who helped me." Sasuke said sadly, taking her hand gently in his, and patting it.
"But... Okay... I think you know best but... I won't ever forget you..." Nari said.
It was her turn to cry now.
Tears fell onto Sasuke's shirt, and he knew they weren't his...
He reached up tenderly, and brushed away the tears.
"Don't cry over me... I am a monster... I am not worthy of your love."
He got up, and placed a single kiss on the top of her head, and got his coat, and walked out the door.
Nari watched after him, eyes full of sorrow, and tears.
"Why did you have to go Sasuke?" She whispered to herself.