Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

A/N: Check out my roll! =] All in one month. I think that was pretty awesome dedication if I don't say so myself. I'm extremely busy with studying, but I'm pacing myself in increments(small bits at a time) right now, so I worked on these chapters when I took a break for a few days. I'm only going to get busier, but I will try my best to not completely abandon it while school is going, even if I have to go down to just one update a month ^^;. But hey, it beats my _ years hiatus. I think you guys will like who this chapter focuses on. *hint hint*

Chapter 6

Suddenly, Emiko felt a rush of water enter her nostrils and ears as something grabbed her by the neck and shoved her into the water. Caught entirely off guard she flailed a moment before realizing she had a hand on her neck and hit the persons arm, however from the angle her body was positioned she only succeeded in knocking the hand away a few inches. She turned as quickly as she could, her mind going to her weapons which were on dry land and much out of her reach.

She put her hands together in a hand sign, but was struck and grabbed once more. The attacker seemed to sense she would use hand signs as practically her only defense in water, and quickly eliminated that option. The attacker now had a tight grip on her neck, as well as one of her arms. Emiko had lost the breath she had been holding due to the impact and was now victim to the suffocating water. She flailed frantically trying to think of a way to retaliate but the odds of nature were against her.

Her struggling only increased her need for oxygen and her body seemed to not want to hold out much longer. When she felt her body almost give in, the attacker suddenly loosened his grip on her and shockingly, he fell into the water beside her. Finally free, Emiko turned right side up and stuck her head out of the water. As soon as the air hit her she coughed, gagging. Her vision was a bit blurry from lack of oxygen and she felt her stomach contract with each exhausted breath she took. She sluggishly made her way towards the land until she was able to kneel in the water again.

Emiko looked back at the attacker, his headband was floating in the now crimson tinged water. It was an Iwa headband. Emiko sighed, shaking her head in disbelief.

"You can't be left alone even an hour can you?" A male voice asked, a bit haughtily.

Emiko's head snapped forward to see the Uchiha standing on the land, facing away. The kunoichi let out a small shriek and hugged herself in an attempt to conceal her body. "W-What are you doing?" Emiko asked, her voice slightly hoarse.

" Isn't it obvious?" Sasuke questioned, annoyance in his voice.

"Uchiha, I didn't ask for your help." Emiko hissed.

"What's with that attitude? I saved your ass and now you're being a pain." He stated.

Emiko bit her lip, realizing that he was right. "Yeah...you're right. It was unexpected though, besides don't you have any shame!" She exclaimed, embarrassed at her current nude state.

"Tch, would you have rather I let you drown?" Sasuke asked, causing Emiko to frown.

"Whatever. Just go, will you? I'm okay now, I don't need you here staring me down." Emiko commented.

"No one is keeping you from getting dressed."

"Um, I think I'd rather not be subjected to your perverseness." Emiko spoke hesitantly.

Sasuke let out what seemed to be a sigh. "Look, if you're still worked up over that incident you shouldn't worry about it."

"How can I be so sure?" Emiko asked. "I wouldn't need to lie about something that's within my access right now." He said. Emiko saw the smirk tug at the corner of his lips.

"Ridiculous. I'm need to get dressed now, so don't you dare look." Emiko warned.

"Yeah, yeah. Get it on with. I don't have all night."

'All night? What are you doing? Waiting on me?' The thought ran through Emiko's head, and Sasuke's next statement confirmed it.

"Looks like nothing good happens if you're alone, so I'll stay with you. But I don't want to wait forever, so hurry up."

Emiko didn't respond, but she narrowed her eyes at him and quickly slipped out of the water. She kept her eyes on him as she neared her clothing to make sure he wasn't eying her. To her surprise, he seemed to have very little interest in her being nude behind him. When she was dressed she walked past him, and then his eyes laid on her for the first time.

"I appreciate the help." Emiko said her words of thanks and walked away as if ending their meeting. She heard footsteps as he began to follow her. She ignored it and chose to stay quiet, until he caught up to her and was walking next to her, although at quite a distance.

"What are you following me for?" The kunoichi questioned suspiciously. "I told you I was going to stay with you since you have an attraction to trouble. Also, I wanted to talk." Sasuke responded.

"Talk?" Emiko asked incredulously, as if he had spoken a foreign word. When Sasuke didn't respond she continued. "Why is that? You don't have something up your sleeve again do you, cause if so-"

"Baka. Calm down already, you've been thinking about that since I first saved you, I told you if that were my goal I would have already attained it by now." Sasuke spoke, interrupting the female.

"Hmph. It's just strange of you." Emiko replied.

Silence fell between them and Emiko soon realized after a few minutes that Sasuke wasn't up to anything malicious or perverted. Emiko had also realized she was doing to Sasuke what she had did to Karin; making a preconceived image of him when they had yet to have many experiences together. 'Well, if his infatuated fan proved me wrong, then maybe I should at least give him a shot. I have been cold to them both after all.' Emiko actually relaxed, trying to not worry herself about it anymore.

Sasuke followed her to a high lookout at which they became closer to the luminescent moon. Emiko glanced over at Sasuke. "Sorry if this isn't what you were expecting, but you don't have to stick around like I said earlier." She apologized, sitting down on the cliff.

"How did you know where this spot was?" Sasuke quizzed, ignoring the statement, and causing Emiko to look a bit puzzled.

"I may not go out much, but I do try to take advantage of the time I have out. I found this place a little while back, and I like it." She said. Sasuke chuckled, and Emiko immediately felt defensive. "What is it?" She asked.

"I figured no other person would be here, especially you." He announced after a brief silence.

Emiko gasped. "You're actually the type to enjoy nature?"

"If you wanna call it that. I come here because it has the best view of the moon, and it's a good place for thought."

"Thought? Hm, I wonder what kind of things you think about here. About how your team mates piss you off constantly?" Emiko asked, in a teasing manner.

The male scoffed. "That isn't worth putting thought into." Sasuke spoke.

"Is it just me or does being under the moon make you feel calm?" Emiko laid onto her back, gazing up at the sky.

Sasuke glanced over at her, taking in her relaxed position. "Heh. I guess you're right." He said.

"I guess we're similar in that aspect. It's a bit funny, I never imagined to be similar to you in any way whatsoever other than serving Orochimaru-sama." Emiko announced, putting her arms behind her head.

Silence fell between them once more and it was overtaken by the sounds of the night. Crickets began their chirping chatter, and occasionally there was rustling down below in the forest. To the trained ear, water ran in the distance creating a peaceful melody in the forest.

Emiko's hair fluttered as a breeze blew by, carrying with it the scent of leaves. "I've always loved nature and animals. Which is why I'm comfortable being in the state I'm in, instead of fearing myself." Emiko broke the silence.

She was feeling calmness between them that made her decide to reveal herself. Although calm, Sasuke was being visibly distant, still standing off to the side several feet away, while Emiko lay on the ground.

"I was wondering, why is it that you didn't want to return to your village?" Sasuke inquired suddenly.

Emiko was surprised and she sat up to gaze at the shinobi. "Why do you ask?" She questioned, her voice soft.

"Because normally most people who are forced into something eventually want to go back to their homes." Sasuke explained.

"I see. Well, it's not that I don't want to, it's more like I feel like I don't have to." Emiko admitted with a sigh.

"How odd." He chided. "Do you want to go back Sasuke?" Emiko asked. " Heh... No." Sasuke responded tersely.

"Come on, there's no need to act all tough." Emiko insisted.

"I am serious. I have no need of going back there. Besides, I came here of my own will." The Uchiha revealed. "Oh..." Emiko muttered. "I see, so you chose this way of living."

"Is there a problem with that?"

Emiko shook her head. " I just wonder why you would have chose to come here of your own free will. Do you admire Orochimaru-Sama a lot?"

"Not quite. The reason was for power." Sasuke spoke calmly.

"Power..." Emiko spoke. "I suppose I can understand wanting that. That's something I appreciate lately as well. Being stronger than before."

She met Sasuke's eyes. "But why Orochimaru-Sama? Couldn't you get powerful just by staying in your village and taking exams?" Emiko questioned.

"I'm different than most of you." Sasuke spoke, grouping Emiko together with others. "I don't serve Orochimaru like you may think. I'm his disciple, not subordinate."

"Hmph. I'm not surprised you see yourself that way."

"It's...for power, and revenge." Sasuke mumbled. "That's why I won't go back to my village. There is nothing there for me."

Emiko drew her knees up to her chest. "I think I'm starting to understand that icy personality of yours a bit." "Hmph." Sasuke grunted.

"That's not a bad thing...it's actually a compliment. It's like hearing you speak of this... I can kind of relate to why you act the way you do. Also, it helps me know you better since I've kind of avoided everyone." Emiko said, giving Sasuke a slightly sympathetic look.

"Tch, don't pity me." He said, turning away.

"Sasuke," Emiko spoke, calling him by his first name. Sasuke seemed to stiffen to signal he was listening, but didn't turn around.

"Misfortune picks at all of us, and we're ninja, many of us desire power. To be the strongest. But, there's no need to be so prideful." Emiko stated.

"What do you know? You don't know anything." Sasuke snapped.

Emiko was slightly taken back. "I know what you told me, and I can relate to not having a place to go to."

"What is your problem? You have a choice whether to go back or not. You don't understand what happened with me. I don't have a choice, I can't go back. Revenge is my only option now." Sasuke rebutted. "Sasuke." The kunoichi groaned.

"You want to continue to talk like you understand what I've been though?" Sasuke tempted.

"Cut out the attitude will you? I have a village, but I don't have a comforting home either. I don't have a clan...We're both the same on that, am I right?" Emiko pressed on.

A look of surprise briefly crossed across Sasuke's face, then a smirk formed.

"There was a guy who once thought he understood me. He was a kid born without parents...it's different; being born without parents and having a clan and then them being slaughtered. They're completely different so how can someone like that understand?" Sasuke's tone had became hostile, and defensive even.

Emiko gasped. "Slaughtered?" She whispered so low that Sasuke couldn't hear. "I-I..don't know what having my clan slaughtered is like." She spoke up.

"Right. So how can you understand that? Having your own brother murder them. Revenge is the only thing that will settle this feeling." Sasuke muttered, almost as if he were out of energy.

Emiko stood and walked over to him, standing face-to-face. "I may not know how that feels but, my parents lived me me until I entered the academy. They decided to abandon me and the village. Apparently they had been involved with things they shouldn't and instead of enduring punishment in the village and being called criminals, they fled." Emiko was breathing heavily after this statement.

Sasuke took her words into consideration, seeming to show a slight remorseful look.

"Sasuke, loneliness doesn't have to be from one specific cause, no matter the cause, loneliness hurts. Your pain of suddenly having your clan ripped out of your life is something I can understand. One minute they are there, then suddenly you're all alone. It's sadness, and it's also betrayl." Emiko spoke, putting a hand to her chest.

Sasuke was staring at her with interest now. "Then, is your want for power also for revenge?" He questioned.

"No," Emiko replied, causing Sasuke to look a bit shocked. "having that motive will not solve anything. It won't solve my feelings. It will give temporary thrill in the heat of the moment, but nothing else."

"Tch, suit yourself."

"I know your loneliness is probably coming from everything you've endured and even the feelings that bother you now." Emiko spoke. She began to think she said too much now because Sasuke clenched his fists.

They stayed silent for a moment and Sasuke turned around to face her with a hard gaze. "Even if you don't have a clan, why do you choose to stay around Orochimaru? None of that explains it." He asked.

"Power, I don't want to leave yet, until I've grown." Emiko stated. This caused Sasuke to smirk.

"Is it power or do you enjoy being someone's naughty guinea pig?" Sasuke asked.

Emiko's slitted orbs widened and she let out a gasp. "What the hell does that mean!" She exclaimed, looking confused.

"It's no secret, or at least to me it's not. Nothing gets past my eyes." Sasuke admitted.

Emiko's mouth was agape. "Why did you say something like that? Guinea pig? You're no more important than me Sasuke in Orochimaru-sama's eyes." Emiko struggled to say.

"I didn't talk about which one of us was more important. The point is just importance in general. I think he's blinded it to you, but you're nothing more than a tool that he uses for his fixation." Sasuke spoke.

Emiko bit her lip. She took a step closer to Sasuke so now she was only a foot away and slapped the side of his cheek. Her anger wasn't restrained in the strike, as Sasuke's lip bled from the contact. The Uchiha grabbed her wrist tightly.

"Don't be naïve." He said, as if it were simple.

"And you don't be stupid! You don't know what relationship Orochimaru-sama has with me, so how can you call me a tool?" Emiko shouted.

"Is it so hard to see? We both know Orochimaru is cold and calculating. You were an experiment after all, isn't that enough to open your eyes?" Sasuke asked, his voice rising.

"I was, but still, now he-" Emiko began but was cut off by Sasuke.

"Now what? Now he treats you like you're the most important? Because you are important, an important tool. That's how he sees you: someone who can be of use to him for a while before he discards you! But even if he chooses not to discard you right away, You won't be important as you think you are." Sasuke spoke, harshly.

Emiko couldn't believe this. First she was having a deep conversation about their own history with Sasuke, and then suddenly he bursts out with such ridiculous comments. It irked Emiko that he would say such a thing. However, it irked her even more that there was a small fear that it may be true, although she was fervently denying it.

"Did you start talking with me just so you could say stupid things?"

"No." Was his simple response. "I was interested in talking with you." He said.

"Well, I don't want to talk if you don't value my worth, degrading me to a tool!" Emiko exclaimed.

"It's not me, it's Orochimaru." Sasuke snapped.

"You're mind is clouded by whatever he's done. You're only important until something more interesting comes along. It was the same in my case when you came here, except I don't really give a damn. You're different." Sasuke stated.

Emiko tried to pull her arm away, but failed. Sasuke gripped her even tighter in response. "I don't want to hear it!" Emiko yelled.

"The truth hurts?" Sasuke questioned.

Emiko's mouth dropped open. "Truth? Who says this is true?"

"You keep denying it. What will it take for you to open your eyes? Just because he acts protective of you over anyone else and he is fucking you almost every night doesn't mean anything!" Sasuke yelled, finally fed up with Emiko's naivety.

Emiko bit her lip even harder than the last time and tried her best to keep her emotions in tact. "Are you trying to take advantage of me by putting me in such a fearful state?" She mumbled.

"Not at all. When it comes to Orochimaru, you're not like me. Instead of being independent and carefree, you're attached and seem to cling to him for dear life. At least, that's what your reclusive makes it seem like." Sasuke responded back, his tone different from his usual nonchalant one.

"You will only be deceived in the end, and broken. Orochimaru won't have a care in the world. He will discard anyone who outlives their use to him." Sasuke urged, trying to get his point across to the stubborn kunoichi.

"Why?" She whispered causing Sasuke to strain just to hear her. "Why are you bothering to tell me this? Since when did you care about what happens to me?" She asked.

"Hm, that's a good question." Sasuke spoke, causing Emiko to scowl and frantically attempt to get away.

Sasuke suddenly jerked the kunoichi towards him, causing her to almost collide into him. He looked down into her snake eyes, his emotions unclear, but his gaze softer and less intimidating than before. Emiko's gaze bore surprise at their sudden close proximity.

His grip on her wrist loosened so that it wasn't as constricting. "On a random whim out of pity?" Emiko asked, using Sasuke's tactic. Sasuke moved closer to Emiko, his lips now close to her ear. "Tch." Sasuke scoffed, and Emiko could almost feel his smirk. "You're an idiot aren't you? I'm not really sure myself, but maybe it was when I confirmed that you really are different from the rest."

A/N: So, what did you guys think? I have something planned for the next chapter, but I'm just curious on your opinions and what you guys want. Does anyone want to see anti- Sasuke, Emiko? Or would you prefer some SasukexEmiko. Or more OroxEmiko? Both? Give me your thoughts, please. =]

Ja ne