Chapter 9

Disclaimer: I Do Not own Naruto

A/N: Lots of Emiko brooding over her thoughts, and implied SasukexEmiko in this chapter!

Emiko changed into a pair of dry clothes, all the while thinking of what Sasuke had said earlier. Looking into her mirror, however she almost jumped out of her skin as the door creeped open and the snake sannin entered. "Orochimaru-Sama!" She exclaimed.

"My dear Emiko, you've been serving me well. I expected a bit of resistance, but I am proud there is none. Shall I reward you once for your effort." Orochimaru asked, and before Emiko could ask he slipped his arms around her waist, and placed his hands on the fabric of her clothes.

So much for avoiding the sannin. It seemed like Emiko's plan wasn't in her favor. She felt that giving in to him would only lead to her defeat and her remaining chained. There was a tap at the door.

Orochimaru was caught off guard and removed himself from Emiko. They both stared at the door, wondering who could have had such timing to interrupt. Orochimaru crossed his arms.

"Emiko." Sasuke's voice uttered on the other side of the door. Emiko gasped, although Orochimaru paid no mind to this she felt increasingly nervous.

"Emiko." Sasuke repeated after getting no response. "I'm coming in." Sasuke opened the door and stood in the door way. "Some nerve you have Sasuke-kun. Coming into a woman's room without permission." Orochimaru commented.

"Sorry, I was looking for her. We didn't quite finish our sparring." Sasuke announced.

"Ah, I see. Well sorry to be in the way. I trust you will help make Emiko-san more lovely." Orochimaru said. He let a small smirk slip onto his lips before disappearing in a poof of smoke.

Sasuke and Emiko were both silent, and unmoving until Orochimaru's presence had completely vanished.

"You've got some great timing." Emiko commented, letting out a sigh of relaxation. "I had a feeling I might have." Sasuke spoke haughtily "What? How could you know?" Emiko quizzed. "Just a feeling." The Uchiha spoke.

"So, you want to finish training now?" Emiko questioned the shinobi. "Not just yet, it was really an excuse." Sasuke spoke. He turned and headed towards the door. "I wasn't done with my individual training before you and Karin interrupted me." He said, and slipped out of the open door.

Emiko smiled to herself, she closed the door and turned towards the mirror only to frown. She looked totally in disarray. Well, at least her clothes did. 'Well at least he got out of that fix'

Emiko had thought too soon, as Orochimaru summoned her for what was left undone earlier. Again Emiko felt hesitant and unsure, but she complied. For some reason she felt an overwhelming sense of loneliness. Orochimaru using her until he was satisfied didn't seem to help. He seemed to have energy from letting her rest from his bed for a couple days. Emiko however, was quickly drained of energy and asked if they could stop early because she wanted to sleep.

Orochimaru replied with telling her that it was nonsense, and she should be glad that she was able to please him right now, instead of disappoint him. Orochimaru seemed to fall into a comfortable slumber after using the majority of his energy. Emiko, although tired spent another restless night tossing and turning. She knew it was nightfall already, and had been for a while, although she had been brought here right before sunset.

Emiko sighed. It was no use. She couldn't get comfortable like this anymore. She got up and went and performed her ritual shower. Scrubbing Orochimaru's essence off of herself. She hurriedly snuck out of the room, only casting a single glance back.

She walked through the candle lit corridors until she reached a door. She held up her hand in a motion to knock, but didn't. She looked at the floor underneath her, and put her hand down to her side.

"What are you doing?" A voice asked from behind. Emiko let out a small squeal and turned to face Sasuke. "U-um...I was...just..." She had backed up against the door behind her. Sasuke sighed. He pressed the door behind her, allowing it to swing open. Emiko stumbled backwards. Sasuke entered the room and looked back at her.

"Were you intending on being here?" Sasuke questioned. Emiko nodded, hesitantly stepping forward. She gently shut the door behind her and looked down to the floor.

She has never been in anyone other than Orochimaru's room before. "So, what is it?" Sasuke prodded. "Huh?" Emiko looked up as if she hadn't understood his words. "You are here why?" He asked.

"I'm...not really here for a specific reason." Emiko walked over to his bed and sat at the foot of it. Sasuke sat down at the head of the bed and gazed at her silently. "I just can't sleep." Emiko stated, falling back onto his bed.

"I see. That again?" Sasuke asked. Emiko was surprised he knew the things that went on and he knew she was still being bothered by it. She nodded. "Do you ever think about what it would be like if you never left your village? What would we be doing if we weren't here." Emiko spoke, looking towards the ceiling, musing.

"Why are you asking something so weird?" Sasuke inquired. "Do you?" Emiko urged him for an answer. Sasuke was silent for a few moments before answering. "I don't really think about me not being here, but I do think of how things would be if my clan were still alive."

"Hm...I suppose you wouldn't be so cold of a person if they were. It seems like after they were gone, your heart has only seen dark things." Emiko commented.

"I tried to be happy. Although unlike you, I wasn't really considered the genius of my village. I was more of a hard worker that did well through practice, instead of through blood line or skills." The kunoichi continued.

"This is the way it will be until things are settled inside of me. I won't be able to pretend things are alright." Sasuke spoke.

Emiko turned onto her side and gazed at the shinobi. "What about your friends Sasuke? Don't you care what they think?"

"Friends? I don't have any, but if I did that would not be a concern." Sasuke said, leaning back against his wall.

"Sasuke, if you carry out revenge on your brother, then you truly will be alone. Especially without friends. Something like that would scare me." Emiko mentioned, looking at the barren wall.

"It's no matter." Sasuke spoke nonchalantly.

Emiko sat up on her elbows and tapped her chin in thought. "If you don't have friends, then what am I?" Emiko questioned.

"You want to be considered my friend?" Sasuke asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, I thought that maybe I was getting closer to being almost a friend. You've helped me out quite often really, although I don't know if that's because you pity me or like me...but it's been very helpful." Emiko stated.

"Wouldn't it be odd if I suddenly had a friend?" Sasuke asked, scoffing after he asked the seemingly ridiculous question.

"Normally it would I suppose...well, if it bothers you then it's fine." Emiko sighed.

"Besides, do you think Orochimaru would approve of you being friends with me? I think he doesn't enjoy the idea of you being too close to anyone, especially when it gets in the way of you and him." Sasuke mentioned calmly.

"You seem to read into his motives like a book...and you're right." Emiko gave in, noticing Sasuke's words were somewhat of a reflection of something she had told him earlier.

"Were you looking forward to it?" Sasuke quizzed the kunoichi. Emiko gave him a small smile.

"N-not really." Emiko muttered. "It doesn't bother me any." Sasuke replied.

"I would really like to do as I wish and not have to be held to what Orochimaru-Sama wants." Emiko groaned. Sasuke gazed at her with curious eyes. "Are you that afraid? Or is it your feelings?"

"Both...I admire him so much that I keep hoping that just maybe he'll see me as a person instead of his creation. And...I'm afraid to tell all of my thoughts to him because I know he will not be pleased. It's been really difficult since you forced these realistic thoughts into my head. I'm at such a loss on how to act I really wish I could get away." Emiko revealed, clutching the cover underneath her.

Sasuke took in her statement and seemed to ponder his words before he spoke. "It's only a hope that he would see you differently. I hate to crush your hopes, but it's better that someone does it before the person himself does."

"Then what do I do if you know so much more than I do?" Emiko asked almost bitterly.

"In your own mind you are probably thinking that your only choice is to be miserable and go along with what he orders. But I have a different opinion." Sasuke announced. Emiko looked at him in surprise. "What is it?" She asked.

Sasuke smirked. "Do what you want." He said. "But-" Emiko immediately began to protest.

"What is it that you want Emiko? Don't even consider anyone else while thinking. Just say it." Sasuke demanded.

Emiko bit her lip, and thought for a moment. "Mainly I just don't want to feel so alone like I do now. I want some source of comfort. A person that could understand this feeling. But I have no clue how I'm ever going to get that...I also want to feel like I have at least a smidge of independence."

"How are you gonna fix that?" Sasuke asked, as if it were a simple matter.

"Sasuke...you listen to me complain. Even though you're cold, I'm beginning to think you're not completely frozen. If that were the case you would have walked away long ago. It's weird. You don't really show a direct form of caring like a friend or someone would, but I can't help but feel a bit at ease." Emiko stated.

Sasuke stayed quiet and simply listened. "Not only that but you have a good intuition for these things. I think...if you would just listen then I would feel less alone." Emiko spoke.

"Is that all?" Sasuke asked, confirming Emiko's statement. Emiko moved closer to the male shinobi and leaned over. "I don't know, but I will find out." She said. She slowly laid down and lightly laid her head in Sasuke's lap. The Uchiha, who was very surprised at the sudden contact, tensed before he was able to finally relax with the kunoichi's head on him.

"Is this awkward for you?" Emiko asked. Her face was facing towards the edge of the bed, the opposite of Sasuke's face. "Unexpected but whatever. Just do as you wish, without thinking of the consequences for once." Sasuke spoke, sighing.

"But what do I do afterward? Eventually there will be consequences." Emiko brooded.

"Just leave it to me, after all you wanted to be my friend right?" Sasuke said, his tone confident and sly.

A/N: Hope you guys liked the EmikoxSasuke time. Comments, and reviews are welcome. ^^