Sasuke growled to himself in frustration as the rest of the rescue team finished setting up the camp for the night and started making supper. If it had been up to him they'd still be running, getting ever closer to Mika. But as it was they had to stop because the ANBU team said they needed to keep their strength up… plus Naruto had been complaining about his empty tummy.

The passionate young ninja glowered at the other shinobi around the fire: Kakashi and that blond Anbu were talking side by side while Guy tried desperately to join in, the other two guys from Anbu squad three were talking to Naruto and Sakura had slunk off into the girls tent. He looked over at the dark woods surrounding their camp, wishing he was speeding through them as fast as his legs would carry him, leading him closer to the girl he loved. He discreetly got to his feet and left the campsite, letting the thick darkness sweep over him and draw him closer to the large tree trunks. He was remembering the first time he and Mika had kissed, their uncertainties as they looked at each other over their touching lips, her deep brown eyes disappearing underneath her eyelids as she let her doubts go. He sniffed. He missed her so much, he desperately hoped she was alright and yet a small part of him kept on reminding him of their last meeting: her expression, her words… her last sentence. "I love you Sasuke."

'Then why did you go?' he asked aloud in the darkness of the woods he had wandered into while he had been reliving their last moments. He felt close to tears, but somehow he knew he couldn't let himself go. He sniffed again and let his eyes fall to the leafy floor beneath his feet, the different shades of gold and brown and yellow blending together to make a glorious autumn blanket.

'Because I had to.' came a tiny voice, so quiet it could have been the wind through the leaves but it still made Sasuke's head snap up and his dark eyes strain as he searched the trees around him, longing to find her standing there. As though to answer his longings a figure appeared between two huge oak trees, one hand stroking the tree beside her, the other hanging elegantly by her side. But Mika didn't look like the Mika Sasuke knew and adored: she had pearly white skin and ebony tear stains running down both her cheeks, her Tikaake outfit was black instead of deep red and she had what looked like a rose tattooed on the right hand side of her pelvis. She also looked as though she had lost some weight and it didn't really suit her, it made her look like a ghostly skeleton.

'Mika?' whispered the young Uchiha boy, frowning at the girl he had known so well but who had changed so much in so little time. 'What happened to you? Why are you here? Are you coming home?' she smiled unhappily at him as she took a few steps closer to him, her skirt and dark hair fluttering in a non-existent breeze. As she came closer it felt as though a strange whisper of wind was caressing him adoringly, it wasn't cold but it was definitely a tiny breeze. 'Are you a ghost?' he whispered painfully, his throat constricting uncomfortably as the thought sunk in.

'I'm not dead.' she giggled as though his terror was endearing, her once pretty face breaking into a wide smile which actually looked like her for the first time that evening. 'But I suppose "ghost" is a good word for what I am.' As she made her way towards him Sasuke noticed that she didn't look completely solid, as though she was a mix between smoke and water.

She was now about a yard from him and Sasuke could see the sad look in her deep brown eyes, as though she was wishing for something but knew that she couldn't have it. She took another step forwards, bringing them to within touching distance, and held out her hand and slowly lifted it up to delicately brush against his arm. It felt as though a very light fabric was sweeping across his skin, there but not quite solid… like a tiny breeze which was only touching that area.

'Don't come and get me.' she whispered softly, her voice sounding pulled as though she was fighting back the tears without much luck. 'You'll just get hurt…' she continued after a pause. Somehow they had got a lot closer… maybe he had stepped forwards… maybe she had, but somehow their faces were almost touching and her hands were now on either side of his face, the sensation of a cool breeze against his skin making the tiny hairs on the back of his neck tingle deliciously.

'But-'

'Please…' she said across him, as though she couldn't bear to argue with him, he looked up to her eyes and saw that wispy tears were leaking delicately out and disappearing into thin air as they slipped off her cheekbone. 'I don't want to hurt you… I'm dangerous.'

'I don't care.' he answered before she could cut across him, fighting back his own tears as their eyes met in a moment of complete agony and yet utter delight. 'I'd do anything for you… I'd go through anything just to feel the touch of your lips on mine.' He tried to wrap his arms around her but somehow they simply passed through her like smoke.

'Please-' Mika sobbed quietly, her voice sounding more and more like a strange echo. 'Don't do this…' she lifted her face up a little so that their eyes and their lips were level. 'Please, go home… find someone else… someone who isn't going to hurt you-'

'I don't want someone else.' he replied firmly, although he wasn't feeling firm at all… he was certain his knees were about to buckle. 'I need you.' She lifted her teary eyes to his, looking deep into his soul… seeing his sincerity, but he couldn't see her… It was as though she wasn't actually there. She brought her face closer to his, her lips closer to his, her eyes closing elegantly as she was about to kiss him, but he kept his own eyes open.

Just when their lips should have touched a warm breeze blew over his face, swirling in the air around him and making his dark hair flutter over his face. His chest was heaving painfully as he looked around at the trees surrounding him, searching for her face… searching for proof that this wasn't just a dream.

'Sasuke?' came a familiar female voice behind him. He whipped around hoping to see Mika's face completely back to normal with a small perplexed expression in her deep hazel eyes and a small forgiving smile on her perfect lips… but it was Sakura. 'Are you alright Sasuke?' she asked tenderly playing with her fingers insecurely, her expression that of shy concern.

Sasuke grunted as he tried to hide the tears which he had leaked out of his dark eyes at his disappointment. He bustled past her with his eyes low, heading for the tent he and Naruto were to sleep in and where he could think over what had just happened. He decided not to tell anyone.