Hey everyone!

This chapter's a bit short (I wrote all of it like **checks watch** two hours) and it's mainly a response to a review someone gave. They said that "its like if you have forgotten about the relation between sasuke and hikari! ". I dont think that I have forgotten about the relationship (hello, it's the reason Sasuke is risking so much, and is the thing that drives this story!) but I suppose that some of you fluff bunnies are getting a little sad at the lack of Hikari/Sasuke action.

This is another single POV chapter (sorry, I'll be sure to add more POVs into future chapters!) and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed writing it!

So I hope you guys like it as well!

PLEASE REVIEW! Was it too cliche? Was it realistic, Sasuke-wise? PLEASE LET ME KNOW!

Chapter 8

The rain was still coming down in morose buckets of ice-water when we reached the inn. It was well past dusk. Our breath made ghostly clouds of smoke that were quickly eradicated by the pellets of water, and the cobblestones making up the narrow street squelched and grinded noisily under the soles of our thick shoes. With every breath I took, crisp coldness seeped onto my tongue and chilled my skin, and I surreptitiously pulled my cloak tighter around me. The rain made the houses lining the streets rather blurry and indistinguishable, but seeing as the inn was the only building with lights still on, our destination was easy to spot.

The inn before us was small, but looked remarkably clean and well-maintained, and the soft lights and sense of warmth radiating from the place would have melted the panic in my chest had I not been busy scanning the area for any hint of a threat. The trees were strangely silent in the face of the pounding rain and the whispering wind, and my hand clenched instinctively around my sword, which was securely belted to my waist.

But my search for danger proved unneeded, for we were alone. My cold fingers painfully pried themselves away from the leather handle, and I let my hand drop harmlessly to my side. I heard Naruto move forward, and glanced over just in time to see Pakkun growl and bite down on his ankle, preventing him from moving toward the main entrance of the inn.

"Not that way," the pug muttered lowly, and I couldn't help but marvel at the fact that such a gravelly, deep voice could come from such a small creature. Naruto frowned deeply, and Pakkun let out a gusty sigh, and nodded to the back of the inn. "We gotta sneak in, just in case enemy ninja come through here and ask if they've seen you."

I nodded, and we followed Pakkun as he vanished into a dark blur. We boosted chakra to our feet, and jumped upward toward the roofs of the nearby houses. Using the rain and the darkness as cover, we darted from roof to roof until we were just behind the inn. One of the windows was open, and there was a small black scarf hanging out on the railing. I knew immediately that that was Kakashi's work, and nodded toward Pakkun, who was looking at me expectantly.

I moved as fast as I was able, leaping over the expanse of street, a mere ten feet above a few wary figures with swords at their sides – nighttime watchmen, no doubt. I used chakra to mute my landing on the rail, and without a moment's hesitation ducked through the open window and into the room.

Warmth rose up like a suffocating wave, and for a moment all I could do was gasp as hot air replaced the chilly air of the outside. My hair was stuck in thick strands to my face – it was longer than I usually had it, my bangs nearly reaching my chin – and I blinked away the water as I moved quickly away from the window to allow Naruto and Pakkun to enter as well.

The room was clean and rather small, but not uncomfortable, with a single bed in the corner, as well as a thick rug covering the center of the hardwood floor. A wobbly bed-side table held a electronic clock and a vase of pretty white flowers, and seeing them reminded me violently of the night in which I had visited Hikari in the Konoha Hospital…where something had urged me to cut off the top of the flower Naruto had brought.

My attention was further distracted by the sound of a sigh, and my eyes snapped to where a familiar figure was seated in a simple wooden chair by the bed, his silver hair glinting in the bright light, the lower half of his face – as usual – covered by a thin black mask. His posture was unruffled and calm, but Sasuke could sense the underlying tension being emitted from his single, dark gray eye. Why was Kakashi here? Why would he be here, of all places, when his village needed him the most?

My eyes must have betrayed my overwhelming confusion, because Kakashi leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees and interlinking his fingers in a thoughtful pose. Naruto closed the window behind Pakkun, but before he could angrily ask the question that Sasuke was currently mulling over in his mind, Kakashi raised a finger to silence him.

The jounin put his hands together, and Sasuke felt the buzz of chakra fill the air before fading out into nothing. Kakashi sighed, and his eye flickered from Naruto to Sasuke.

"A silencing jutsu, to make sure we aren't overheard."

Naruto took that as his cue to leap into the silence with a loud, "Why are you here, Kakashi-sensei?"

I lowered myself into a chair, and Pakkun curled up beside Kakashi's leg as the man shifted slightly in his seat. Naruto was still on his feet, his bright eyes staring curiously at the jounin before him, his hands clenched into frustrated fists.

"I have been…forced to leave Konoha for the time being. Tsunade-sama is in a coma, and so they have elected Danzō Shimura as her temporary replacement. However, Danzō has other plans. He wishes to kill Tsunade, therefore giving him complete power of Konoha."

"What?" Naruto yelled, but Kakashi raised a hand to silence him.

"Now is not the time for speculation and panic, Naruto. I am merely relaying what I know," he said, and went on without further ado. "Sasuke has been marked as an S-rank criminal that is to be killed on sight, as he has betrayed Konoha by kidnapping you, the Jinchuuriki. I know this is not the truth," Kakashi added quickly, as both Naruto and I were making to angrily object to his words. "but this is what Danzō has announced to the public, and therefore it is what the majority believes to be true. Danzō also has proclaimed that Hikari is to be killed on sight, as she willingly joined the enemy and–"

I hardly had time to think – the blinding rage at hearing those words came on suddenly and without warning – before my voice filled the room, uncharacteristically sharp and loud.

"No!"

Naruto was also fuming, his eyes sparks of furious cerulean as he rounded on Kakashi. "What the hell? You know that she was kidnapped, Kakashi-sensei, why didn't you tell–"

Pakkun let out a growl. "Shut it, Blondie, and use your brain. The reason Kakashi had to leave was because he knew 'bout the kidnap. Danzō wasn't very pleased with that, and so he planned to eliminate th' only witness to her kidnapping."

I frowned, and said, "But how do you know all of this?"

"Sai was able to warn me before Danzō officially came into office, and I took the chance to flee," Kakashi explained, and fixed his gaze securely onto my own. "I decided to come to you two, to warn you of what has happened since you left Konoha. I also wish to help you. Madara can only be growing in strength, and we need to work together if we hope to survive."

I glanced over at Naruto, who was pale and shaking from the shock. But surprisingly, he didn't let his emotions run away from him. He took a deep breath, and spoke slowly.

"Sounds like a plan."

We went to sleep soon after, with the plan to leave early the next morning. Kakashi was in the bed – he had paid for the room, after all, so it seemed logical for him to be the one to use the bedding provided – and so Naruto and I had laid out our mats on the soft rug. The air in the room was warm and comfortable, and yet sleep eluded me. It had been like this ever since…ever since she was taken.

Naruto had fallen asleep in seconds, and I glared at him from my bedroll, hating him for his seemingly effortless ability to separate himself from the land of the conscious. Kakashi was asleep as well, and so I was left alone and painstakingly awake in the warm darkness.

It was always like this.

In the daytime, I was somehow able to push aside everything else and focus on my task. I was able to function, in the most elemental meaning of the word. I breathed, I spoke when necessary, and I didn't allow my emotions to overwhelm me.

But at night, when I was left with nothing but my thoughts…the memories began to trickle in. It was usually a memory of Hikari, bittersweet reminders of her existence, my heart's adamant refusal to accept the idea that she may be dead…or worse.

I closed my eyes, expecting a memory to overwhelm me, but–

–suddenly I was on a large, rounded rock, in the center of a whirling and foaming stream, the water as clear as a summer's day, and the sky filled with sunshine and with the sound of leaves whispering against each other. My mind was relaxed and at ease, and I looked down to see myself clothed in a simple outfit; blindingly white tunic and shorts, with no shoes or other accessories. I was about to wonder where exactly I was when the sound of a familiar voice made my mind temporarily go blank.

"Sasuke!"

I whipped around so fast that my neck should have tweaked painfully – something at the back of my mind reminded me that I was in a dream, and so pain wasn't a definable concept. There are no words to describe the feelings that rushed through me at the sight of the girl standing on the shore, for words would be painfully and utterly useless.

She stood there, her blue-gray eyes bright and glowing in the sunshine, and her golden hair loose and falling in loose waves to her waist. She was clothed in the same outfit as I was, and I felt my heart beating faster at the smile that was slowly turning up the sides of her lips.

Hikari.

My memory had not faltered in the slightest when creating her image, and I drank her in, my eyes scanning her unconsciously for injuries, but then…why would she be injured? This was all in my head.

I knew that I should wake myself up. I shouldn't indulge my imagination like this. She wasn't real, she wasn't real, she wasn't real–

"Emo-boy, don't tell me that you've given up on me..." she asked, her smile fading slightly as a hint of uncertainty filled her gaze. It was that expression that destroyed all of my logic and my reason.

Oh…

I moved faster than I would have thought possible, and then she was in my arms, my face burying itself in the juncture between her neck and her shoulder, my arms locking around her waist and her upper back, yanking her to me with such force that I wouldn't be surprised if I gave her bruises. I felt her gripping me as tightly as she could, and I felt my worry melting away as I felt her breath on my neck, her voice cracking as she whispered.

"I've missed you so much…"

I couldn't answer, for I was too busy breathing in the scent of her. It wasn't a particularly vivid scent – such as something one would find in the scent of strawberries or perfume – but it was simply a warm smell that made me think of home.

Home is where the heart is, my mother always said. Now, in this moment – no matter how real or fake it may be – I was home, because I was where my heart was.

I was with Hikari.

Once I had soaked in the smell of her, I moved on to her face. My eyes ravaged the contours and familiar creases, my fingers cupping her cheeks and holding her in place. Tears were filling her eyes, and I resisted the urge to hug her to me once more.

"You're not really here," I murmured, and she nodded shakily, her eyes closing as she struggled to compose herself. The sunshine seemed to falter slightly, and her eyes snapped open, fearfully flickering in the direction of the sun.

"I know, Sasuke…but I wish…I want to be…" Hikari was so overwhelmed that she could not continue. She let out a chocked laugh, throwing her arms around me and pressing her lips to mine.

I could taste her tears on the softness of her lips, and I didn't realize I was crying until she pulled away, and I felt the water coursing down my own cheeks. She touched my cheeks, and I put my hands over hers, taking gasps in an attempt to contain my grief.

"I can't…I can't…" I tried to continue, but my throat swelled until speech was impossible. Hikari's blue-gray eyes seemed even bluer in the face of her tears, and she buried herself in my arms. I could think of nothing else but to cling to her, memorizing the feel of her…the sound of her voice…the memory of her love…

"I know. It's so hard…I just want to stay here…" Hikari whispered, and I let out a shaky breath as she went on. "I love you so much."

"I will find you," I said firmly, clutching her more tightly to me in an attempt to keep myself together.

"I'll be waiting, Sasuke."

I looked at her – taking in the warmth of her skin, the softness of her hair, the sweetness of her tears as she intertwined our fingers, both of us holding on for dear life.

I lowered my head to kiss her again. She closed her eyes, and I could feel the warmth of her breath on my mouth as–

"Sasuke, wake up!" a voice hissed loudly, and my eyes opened to the sight of Naruto kneeling over me, his figure dim in the light of early morning. I sat up quickly, turning away to hide the traces of tears on my cheeks. Naruto didn't notice, thankfully, and silently moved away to roll up his bedroll.

I began to get dressed, subtly using my shirt to wipe my cheeks. I looked up to see Kakashi staring at me, his eye dark and solemn as it steadily locked with mine. His face was inscrutable, but I could detect a hint of pity hidden there.

I turned away, and began packing up.

The severity of my delusion was slowly crushing me, and I felt another tear – brief and strikingly lonely – slide down my cheek.

Home is where the heart is.

Since mine was with Hikari, everything in the real world was unfamiliar and wrong, and it was only in my dreams that I felt at peace.

The thought was frightening, but what was even more frightening was that it was the truth.