Chapter 31 The Unspoken

I leaned back on the door of my room shortly after I had closed it, needing something to help me hold my weight. I stared at the tatami floor, listening to the sound of my wet clothes relieve themselves slowly of the water that burdened them. I raised a hand slowly to touch my lips. Thunder crashed.

I…had never been kissed before, nor held so close to someone. But Sasuke? How was that possible? I mean, I saw him as a friend and plenty of other girls would probably prefer to be…why? My handle trembled lightly. My first k-kiss? No, technically, it had been stolen from me, but still…

Was I thinking like a girl again? Dammit!! Stupid bastard! I bet he did it on purpose!! That had to be it. There's no way…

But what if he did?

The door behind be was wrenched open and I nearly fell. I jumped back and Mizuko was right there in my face.

"Let's go to the bath!!!" She said, stalking me as I tried to back away. "I haven't been in one for so long!"

I was hoping to be alone for the next couple hours but I didn't want to give away my current mental state.

Mizuko cocked her head to the side. "Karasu? You're soaking wet."

I forced a smile. "I just…did some exploring."

"Now you should really take a bath." She said as she took my hand. "You could catch a cold."

Protesting proved futile when she pulled me from my room and down the hallway. Not far ahead, Ekima and Hiko stood waiting. Ekima smiled and clapped her hands together.

"Your coming too, Karasu-chan? I'm glad."

"Look at her!" Mizuko said, pushing me forward. "She's as wet as a rag!"

"You'll catch a cold!" Ekima cried and began to pull me forward along side Mizuko. "You better get in the water right away!!!"

"But-" I began.

"No, Karasu, I don't want to hear it!" Mizuko teased fondly.

Hiko followed behind, an amused smile on her face.

Now, I've been around guys most of my life, so I've never bathed with other girls before, or anyone for that matter. While my companions let themselves down into the water, with the exception of Mizuko who practically jumped in, I stood at the edge of the bath nervously.

It was a good sized hot spring, big enough to carry near a hundred people. A fairly thin layer of pavement surrounded the bath and ended where the bamboo wall divided the male and female sections. Steam billowed up from the warm water, giving everything a pastel like color. Come to think of it, I had never been in a hot spring before.

"Come on Karasu!" Mizuko called.

"There's herbs in the water that held heal wounds." Hiko called out. "You've got a couple cuts that could use closure and the water could probably clean them of any infections."

"A-all right."

I knelt down at the waters edge.

"Wait."

Mizuko waded over to me and pulled her self up from the water. She grabbed a wooden bucket that was placed at edge of the bath. She filled it up with water at poured it down my back, refilled it, then dumped it on my head.

"You have to do that before you get into the water." She explained as she slid back in.

I hesitated, removed my towel and lowered myself into the bath. Warmth slid up through my toes and arms, quickly relaxing every muscle in my body. If one word were to be used to describe the sensation it would have to be "comfort." I sighed deeply and sunk deeper into the water.

My thoughts slipped back to ealier, after all it wasn't something I could easily forget. I dunno, Sasuke just didn't seem like that kind of person, perhaps I had miss read him. And then their was also the fact that he had a splitting resemblance to Itachi, which made the situation seem more awkward. I sunk down until the water was up past my nose. Geez, first Shinsuke and now Sasuke? Did I do something in the last week that suddenly made me appealing? Back in Akatsuki I never had that problem, 'course I was pretty young too.

I watched my companions-no-my friends mess around in the water. Mizuko, being the kind of person she is, began to splash at Hiko, who grew pissed and punched her on the head while Ekima watched this and laughed. I could tell them, I felt I could trust them. Trust? Now that's something rare for me. Maybe I am going soft. Even so, I would feel to embarrassed to bring up such a thing.

A sudden realization shot through my mind. What would Ma-

"Karasu!!" Mizuko called, splashing water at me. "You're really quiet! What are you thinking about over there all by yourself?"

All eyes turned to me. My face went bright red, I could feel it.

"N-nothing. I was just thinking about…the mission."

It was partly true.

There was awkward silence.

"Karasu-chan," Ekima began and wadded towards me. "You went through a lot, but it will pass. You may not forget it but eventually it will be a thing of the past. Don't dwell on it too much."

I stared at her. That was it! She had helped me without me even asking her. Ekima was so smart!

"Thanks!" I said, really meaning it.

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"Where did you disappear to?" Yoshimitsu asked as Sasuke lowered himself into the hot spring.

"I don't owe you any explanations." Sasuke said.

Things didn't go well and Sasuke was prepared for that. Things are different though when you get slapped across the face. Actually, he found it kind of funny. Still it was kind of out of character for him. Sasuke hadn't planned on kissing her, even though he had thought about it before, it just kind of…happened. Sasuke had no experience with girls and he still had trouble understanding why they tried to hang all over him (not very bright is he?). Actually, he had never kissed anyone except for when…he chose not to remember that. Such an annoying guy.

"What happened to your face?" Yoshimitsu ventured.

Sasuke gave him a hard look. The bastard knew, he was just stringing him along.

"Karasu slapped me." He said honestly.

From the slight shift in Yoshimitsu expression, Sasuke guessed he hadn't expected a direct answer and was disappointed.

"Why is that?" The Hyuuga continued.

"Why ask what you already know." Sasuke asked as he leaned back.

After Itachi's death, if he managed to get out of being a host body, Sasuke planned to revive the Uchiha clan. Even if only a half blood, Karasu was also Uchiha, probably the only female left. Perhaps this went deeper than that, though. She often reminded him of…team 7. Despite that he felt the need to kill those feelings, it attracted him to her. Similar to the way a pair of magnets work. Sasuke was the negative charge while Karasu was the positive. Despite both of their best efforts, resistance to such a magnetic pull was futile. This brought Sasuke to the realization that, with Karasu around, concentrating on future training would be very difficult.

What would Itachi think if he found out that his brother was attracted to a girl he supposedly raised? The thought gave Sasuke a twisted satisfaction.

Ironic though, wasn't it? He could probably choose from tons of girls, but the one he picks has no such feelings for him. Sasuke smiled. It made her unique, separated her from the others. Maybe that was part of it too.

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Sleep proved difficult. To my surprise, I wanted to be back at home. Home?! Was I crazy? The hideout was what I meant. Such a place was no home of mine. What could I call home then? Did I have one? It certainly wasn't a place where you got experiment on. Even still I had gotten used to it. I rolled over in my futon.

I missed the Akatsuki, though. Mostly Itachi and Deidara but the other members were not to be overlooked. Kisame was fun because he was so laid back and fun to talk with. What's not fun about talking to a fugitive who tried to take over the government. I missed Hidan and Kakuzu, or the Zombie Twins (the nickname granted to them by the other members). Hidan was a fun guy and Kakuzu was downright greedy. The two were entertaining, especially when they argued. Sasori had a morbid hobby and did talk all that much. Zetsu still creeped me out, so I usually didn't hang around him much, even though the idea of the two halves talking to one another still fascinated me. I didn't see Konan or Pain very often. Between the two of them, Konan left the main base much more. I didn't know her very well, she seemed very reserved, but I think she must have had some good in her because of the few times she had looked after me.

Then, I clenched my fists, there was Madara. In all honesty, I wasn't sure whether to miss him or not. Standing before him the first time, I felt a feeling of both fear and awe. The way I felt around him was different from Orochimaru. I despised Orochimaru, I was afraid of Madara. None of the other members new he was the true leader of the Akatsuki. Who could when he disguised himself as a person such as Tobi? Itachi felt I had the right to know. Actually, it was Madara's idea. There seemed to be some strained relationship between the two of them, something I couldn't quite see. Despite that, Itachi brought me before Madara when requested, though, he always hesitated when he asked to leave. Four of us left. Four remaining Uchiha. I wondered if that had anything to do with Madara's fascination of me. Come to think of it; I had never dared ask how one of the founding father's of Konoha was still alive.

The six of us left the next day at the first sight of morning light. The inn keeper was a lazy man who was snoozing at the front counter. Ekima returned the key and some money. I guiltily felt thankful that he was asleep at the time we left, because I stole the clothes that I had been only meant to borrow. Didn't have a whole lot of options or time to do else wise.

We walked and traveled through the trees the first five hours but eventually we were able to hitchhike on a supply truck that was headed in our direction. The driver was a man who's whole body appeared to be round, but he was kind. There was plenty of space for all of us in the back and the camouflage cloth overhang kept us well out of view from any people who might pass. I don't know if the driver was constantly drinking coffee or something but he drove non-stop. He allowed us one crate of food he was carrying, saying he had some extras. At night we slept on or against the crates, which was more comfortable that it sounds.

I had decided to act like nothing had happened between Sasuke and me, in hopes of him forgetting as well. Unfortunately, it was a feat easier said than done. I found it hard to make eye contact much less carry out a conversation with him. He didn't bring it up at all, almost as if he were trying to act like nothing had happened as well. And if he was, he was doing a much better job than me.

It took the rest of the day and most of the next to reach our destination. We thanked the driver, who shrugged our compliments off. We were still a good hour and half always from the hide out, so we got started immediately after the truck was out of sight.

When we finally got there, Kabuto was waiting for us. I looked at Sasuke, as if expecting him to explain.

"We've moved hideouts." Kabuto began to explain, with out even a simple "hello." Great way to greet people who just risked their lives. "I let you rest for the rest of the day but tomorrow were heading out. Except for Ekima and Yoshimitsu, they stay."

Direct and to the point, just like Kabuto. I gave Ekima smile and shrugged. I would've liked a couple days to relax but apparently not. It was actually nice to think that I could sleep in the hideout knowing that Orochimaru wasn't around.

Author notes: And so it begins!!! So, Madara made his first appearance, er, mention and we learned a bit about his relationship with Karasu. About the truck, they were in the first movie so I figured, why not? Besides, I like the idea of my OCs sleeping in an army like truck. ^^'