Chapter 14

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto~

A/N: This chapter continues/relieves the tension from the two. Hope you guys enjoy it.

"Nee-san." Called a miniscule voice. "Hey, nee-san!" Another voice urged, this one a bit deeper. Slowly the world began to come into view and Emiko saw two children hovering above her. Emiko blinked, staring confused at the girl and boy. "Where am I?" Emiko questioned.

"You're at our tofu shop. But don't ask too many questions, you need to eat." The little girl spoke, picking up a bowl of rice from the bed side. Still not adjusted to suddenly being in the place she was, Emiko was unsure. However, Emiko didn't have time to protest as a scoop of rice was shoved into her mouth.

Emiko let out a muffled screamed. "Eat up! You need it." The girl exclaimed, stuffing another couple spoonfuls of rice into Emiko's mouth. Emiko attempted to chew and began to cough as several bits and pieces slid down her throat.

Emiko stat up trying her best to maneuver the food down her throat without strangling to death. "Don't kill her, Aoi!" The boy scolded, smacking Emiko on the back. "I can't kill her Kuro. She's a ninja." The girl, Aoi stated innocently. "Stupid, ninja can die!" Kuro explained.

"What are you guys doing to me?" Emiko asked desperately, as she caught her breath. "You fell out into the street and didn't move. You were really pale and sick looking." Kuro stated. "Ah, did I?" Emiko asked, not being able to remember what happened. They two children nodded. "When we brought you here your stomach growled really loudly in your sleep, so we figured you were hungry." Aoi said, smiling. "So, eat!"

Aoi began to practically feed Emiko at a rate she could not refuse, unless she were to risk getting choked. Emiko felt like a child being fed by a child, but she couldn't help but smile on the inside. After Aoi was done stuffing Emiko's cheeks like a rabbit, Kuro handed Emiko a cup of tea.

"You guys are too kind." Emiko said, feeling grateful at how considerate they were. "Just get better nee-san." Kuro said, grinning. Emiko felt flattered that the kids looked up to her, a weird looking stranger enough to title her as "nii-san".

"Kuro where is that cool nii-san at?" Aoi asked, turning to the boy. Kuro shrugged. "Why do you keep calling him the cool nii-san?" Kuro questioned. Aoi giggled, "Cause he is!" She cupped her hands on the side of her mouth as if she were about to yell, and she did. "Nii-san!" She called out. "Your girlfriend is awake!"

'

Girlfriend?' Were they talking to Sasuke? "Psst, he never said she was his girlfriend." Kuro corrected. "Yeah, but I'm betting she is." Aoi insisted.

Emiko felt nervous. She remembered her last encounter with Sasuke and how bad it was. After a few seconds of anticipation Sasuke appeared in the doorway. "So you're awake." Sasuke greeted. Emiko nodded. "How do you feel?" He questioned. "I feel a bit more energized than before." She said, taking a sip of the tea, not directly looking at him.

"That's better. You go off and pass out, It's almost dumbfounding." Sasuke commented. The two children were looking at them in interest. "So, is she your girlfriend nii-san?" Aoi questioned. Sasuke raised an eyebrow at the girl. "You ask interesting questions." He commented.

"Well, it's good you're awake. Once you're feeling better we should be on our way." Sasuke spoke. He turned around, walking out of the room.

Emiko stood up, feeling a bit woobly at first, but then she caught her balance. The children looked at jher with concern. She finished her tea and rubbed both of their heads simultaneously. 'Don't worry. I'm just going to go out for a bit. You guys really helped me out." She said.

"Well that cool nii-san helped carry you here. We just took care of you afterward!" Aoi revealed. "Oh," Emiko said surprised. "I see. Well, I should be thanking you guys even more then." Emiko gave them a bow and walked outside the back of the shop. She spotted Sasuke walking away in the distance. Silently she followed him.

Sasuke was now on the outskirts of town, standing beside a calm river. He stopped when she was only a few feet behind him. He turned around, with his hands on his hips giving her an inspecting gaze. "So you're energized already?" He asked.

Emiko was staring down at the ground, and she fiddled with her fingers. "As much as I'm going to be I suppose. Um, I'm sorry about earlier. I was pretty rude when I lashed out at you helping me." She mumbled, feeling awkward that it was the first thing she has really said to him since their fight.

"You just realized that?" Sasuke asked, sighing. He still didn't seem to happy about it. Emiko stepped closer to Sasuke and grabbed onto his shirt, pulling herself close. "I'm really sorry about that. It's just that you act quite stupid when it comes to this." Emiko stated bluntly.

"Excuse me?" Sasuke asked, surprised that she said such a thing so bluntly.

"Because you don't give any thought to anything other than revenge. What if you die while doing it then what? You die for something that is not even worth doing to begin with." Emiko stated. This time she lifted her head up so that her eyes met Sasuke's.

"If I am then why do you sympathize with me? If you understand how I feel, then why can't you understand that it's necessary for me to carry this out?" Sasuke questioned. "For me it's fully worth it."

"Do you want me to just stand by while you either die or succumb to hate?" Emiko rebutted, hugging him.

"Hmph. There is no way I'd die. And why would I succumb to hate?" The Uchiha inquired.

"Because it's cruel to take out such a revenge, and if you do that there is no telling how far you'd sink into being hateful." Emiko spoke.

"This is something that I've been hard decided on for a very long time now. I can't change my mind now." Sasuke explained firmly.

"And doing something like this would be on the level of Orochimaru-sama's coldness." Emiko said, biting her lip. Sasuke placed his hands on Emiko's arms.

"Well, somehow you fell for Orochimaru despite him being a sick minded person in every way. But you're criticizing me because my want for revenge which is justified?" The Uchiha asked. He let out an exasperated sigh, and let go of Emiko, sitting down on the ground.

"I'm just worried Sasuke. Because no one can deny it's not smart. And I don't want you turning sadistic because of it." Emiko explained. "And I know I shouldn't criticize you, Orochimaru-sama is by far a much more evil person than you are..."

"Well, I promise I won't die. And, I won't keep staining my hands with blood because of it." Sasuke spoke. Emiko slowly sat down next to the shinobi. "I know I must be horribly annoying and angering you, but I couldn't help but express my thoughts." She said.

"So, are you going to give up on me?" Sasuke questioned, his expression serious. Emiko shook her head 'no'. "You might think I'm pretty mad Emiko, and I am, but more so I'm disappointed. Of all people I figured you would understand or at least come to terms with it." Sasuke continued.

Emiko drew her knees up to her chest. "Sorry about all of it. I should have just minded my own business."

Sasuke gently grabbed Emiko's shoulders and pulled her back towards him. "And honestly I don't want you to leave my side. So don't think I do. But I won't involve you in any of the madness when the time comes." He explained.

Emiko leaned back onto Sasuke, grabbing his hands and resting them gently on her waist. "I won't leave you alone." Emiko spoke softly, placing her hand on top of his.

"Are you willing to trust me?" Sasuke inquired, his lips were close to her ear. Emiko moved out of his grasp and adjusted herself so that she could lay back and lie her head on Sasuke's lap.

"As long as you're honest about what your emotions. No matter how bad or good it is." Emiko said, smiling up at Sasuke.

"Really?" The male shinobi asked. "Promise." Emiko stated, holding up a pinky finger. Sasuke stared at her curiously for a moment before trying to hold in a chuckle and joined his finger with hers almost a bit awkwardly. "Promise?" Sasuke echoed, wondering if he were supposed to agree as well.

Emiko reached up and placed her hands on the sides of Sasuke's cheek, causing a slight blush to rise across his face. He leaned closer and touched his lips to hers, kissing her. They deepened the kiss slightly, tasting each other. Sasuke gently sucked on Emiko's lip, his hand gently brushing over her neck.

"Sasuke," Emiko called, as they separated from the kiss. "Hm?" He asked. They were now only a few inches apart, staring eye to eye. "I know that you don't like being alone either. But I won't let you be." Emiko spoke.

Sasuke looked a bit surprised by the comment, but slowly smiled. He leaned his head down so that his forehead was resting against Emiko's. Emiko blushed, letting out a laugh.

"I find it odd how you can come off as so cold, but be so gentle." Emiko commented. "You think I'm cold?" Sasuke asked, unsure of how to take the comment. "At least your exterior is. You're thick. It doesn't seem like you show things like serious care or affection easily." Emiko commented.

"Your gentleness is nice. I'm not used to such sweetness. Even your kisses feel sweet, and not greedy or lust filled." Emiko stated.

"Is that a good thing? Are you too used to things being rushed and rough?" Sasuke inquired. "I'm not used to this...yet, but I prefer it this way." Emiko admitted.

Emiko pushed herself up on her elbows, avoiding hitting Sasuke in the face. "It feels good tonight. Shall we get going?" She asked. "You're suddenly excited about going." Sasuke commented suspiciously. "I'm feeling good right now so maybe that helps. But I think we should get going." Emiko spoke, looking up at the now dark sky.

"You realize that Kirigakure is rather hard to find? Once we get into the land it will be fine, but the visibility of seeing The Village Hidden in The Mist is about zero at this moment." Sasuke announced. Emiko smiled in response. "That maybe so, but we aren't in a hurry are we? Let's go." She said, grabbing Sasuke by the wrist and pulling him up.

A/N: ^^ Reviews are welcome and loved~