My head wasn't on the pillow anymore. I clutched the pillow against my side, muffling my face against it.

The yelling, the cursing, the threatening. On nights when there wasn't someone bold enough to physically hurt me, there was verbal abuse outside my locked doors and windows.

Crying is not going to make my situation any better. But with some of the things they're shouting, I can't hold it back.

If you used me more often, they'd be dead, kit.

Kyubbi had woken with my crying.

Kyubbi, leave me alone. It's because of you they hate me, anyway.

Suit yourself.

Kyubbi was like a literal conscience. He healed my wounds and gave me boundless energy and Chakra. He was rude, and I hated the fact he was in my body, but he took care of me. I didn't mind Kyubbi.

But I'd go without Kyubbi if I could, just so these people would stop hurting me.

The next day we didn't have any missions, but Kakashi did again. He left us to train, and by us, he meant Sasuke and I, because Sakura didn't fight train. She was our…advisor. She trained in chakra control when we had Kakashi around.

In the beginning, we weren't practicing. We were standing, or in Sakura's case sitting around.

I'm trying to interpret the conclusion I made last night. Maybe it was just a coincidence. But that's always how it seemed. My first idea, (and this is so dumb,) was that he secretly returned Sakura's affection, and got jealous when I talked to her. That was definitely not it. I have a hard time thinking about the other idea.

Sasuke gets that jealous, disappointed look, because I'm not talking to him. I'm wanting Sakura.

That can't be it either, though. I think…

He doesn't even know I see it. He's never even noticed my starring.

"Are we standing here all day, or practicing?" Sasuke asked suddenly, shaking me from my thoughts.

"We're practicing!" I replied. Normally, we just practiced hand to hand combat without jutsu. We stopped if we were close to seriously hurting one another.

So it started. Sakura was sitting, tallying who got more hits on who. I'm never distracted, (by him,) when I fight him. I always try to prove myself around Sasuke. I strive to be just like Sasuke, and when that happens, better.

This continued for hours, with small time-outs and breaks on Sakura's call. She noticed when we got tired or agitated.

Kakashi was supposed to be gone for 3 to 4 days. I was planning on taking a break and hanging out tomorrow.

"Let's call it a day, you two." Sakura said, the sun just beginning to disappear, a haze of purple-pink in the sky.

"Who won!?" I yelled automatically.

"Sasuke got more hits on you, Naruto! You are so awesome, Sasuke!" Sakura squealed.

I growled, turning around to look at him.

"Good fight, maybe someday you'll win." It didn't seem like gloating or sarcasm. I didn't say anything back.

"Hey, are you guys coming tomorrow? I was thinking we could break for a day…"

You break when we fight, and yet you want the day off, I thought. But I quickly erased that. I liked Sakura less and less every day.

"I'm staying at home," Sasuke mumbled.

"That was my plan too!" I answered.

"Well, I was thinking…Maybe all three of us could go do something!" Sakura interjected.

"…Like?" Sasuke asked.

"I don't know…But something!"

I liked the idea, but could think of nothing to do. "I have no ideas, other then get ramen." I shook my head. "Like you guys want to do that."

Nobody had ideas, a few minutes passed. Sasuke and I shifted to sitting. Him against a tree and me cross-legged on the ground.

"I'm going to head, come tell me tomorrow if you have any ideas." Sakura said suddenly, walking away with a wave. I almost followed, but Sasuke made no motion to move.

When Sakura was out of sight, Sasuke let out a sigh as if he had been holding it all day. (and I'm sure he was.) "Geez, she's gone."

"That's not very nice Sasuke," I muttered.

"I know you like her, but she's so damn annoying. Look it how she acts towards me. I hate it."

I had never sat an had a conversation with Sasuke. We were silent friends. We never talked to each-other unless it was mission strategic, or when we were pissed.

"I don't like her like THAT!" I hissed automatically.

"Yeah right," He didn't know I was looking, but that look was there again. "You act like you do."

I found it more and more awkward to even be speaking to him. But he's not treating me like crap. We're having a conversation. "She's my friend, Sasuke!"

"You're my friend. Look at the way I act around you."

"Hardly," I scoffed. "But she's different! You're supposed to treat ladies nicer! By the way, you could try being nicer to me, if we're friends." I added.

"Well, I was getting to that."

That surprised me. I was expecting a, 'you started hating me first."

"Anyway, since we're friends…We could do something tomorrow. You know, like guy friends do. Hang out."

Before the, Oh my god, I was wondering how the hell socially retarded Sasuke defined, 'hanging out.'

Then there was the Oh. My. God. Sasuke is being nice. "What about Sakura?" I asked.

"She's annoying. Girls just get in the way, and all she's going to do is flirt with me. I don't want her there."

I swallowed, "Okay, what should we do?"

He shrugged, "Whatever you want."

Now that Sakura was gone, it was surprisingly a lot easier to think of things. After moment of silence I said, "…Um, well…More then anything I just like talking. We could go hang out and talk. I don't know much about you as a person."

He nodded. "Sounds good, where?"

Why had my Naruto-ness faded? Why was I not hyper, annoying, and not freaking out at the fact that Sasuke was being friendly? I'm practically embarrassed.

"How 'bout….Here?"

"Alright." He got up, so I did too. "I'll see you here tomorrow. Noon?"

"Sure." This was so not me. What was wrong with my attitude?