Yo. How are you all? I actually started this chapter about a day after I updated, so it's nice to know I still have my inspiration. Anyways, thank you all as always for the support.
I wanted to make it a bit longer for you all, so I hope you all enjoy.
The sound of the trees' leaves rustling against the wind was calming...the wind brushed against my skin and clothes as I sat on the grassy hill filled with memories with the Uchiha brothers. My eyes were closed, painting the view I've memorized in my head. The sun was bright today, letting its rays shine upon the village.
I wasn't alone.
I could feel him...within me...beside me...around me...even if I wanted to be alone...I would never truly be alone. He would be there, watching over me.
It was strange how he had never struck fear in me, always intriguing me and urging me to embrace him. I know he could be fearsome, but he was never like that with me. His chuckles were haunting, always bringing shivers to my core, but it wasn't bad. It was like that feeling when someone would run their hand through your hair and you'd get the strange goosebumps because it felt strange yet nice.
Had he always been with me? Since I was born into this world, had he always been watching me until the time came when he finally introduced himself?
'I have...'
I couldn't help but let my lips form into a small smile at the familiar wispy voice that pleasantly plagued my mind. I didn't open my eyes...he was standing there with me on the hill I sat upon. My mind's painting of our surroundings were all I needed, I didn't need to open my eyes.
'Forever...and always...I will watch over you...'
I felt the chilling brush of the back of his clawed fingers against my cheek. I truly felt at peace right now...
'Are you ready...?'
Was I? Was I ready to learn of his name and finally become one with him? Would it feel different than just a shadow, would I feel as if my heart was beating for two?
I am.
I didn't have to see him to know that his permanent grin widened even in the slightest to the answer within my head.
'My name...is...'
I felt his semi-corporeal hand slide under my hair and gently place itself at the back of my neck, as if he was moving closer to me. He whispered his name so closely to my ear, and I felt something strange within me.
'Don't fight it...let it happen...'
I took a deep breath, slowly exhaling as I listened to him. I felt light and tingly as my chakra seemed to be changing...expanding and mixing in with something peculiar. I could hear my heart beating in my ears, rhythmic and slow...calm.
Liquid ran down my left eye. I was about to raise my hand and feel it to try to decipher whether it was blood or not, but his fingers brushed up my cheek, seeming to be wiping the liquid away like a tear.
The wispy feeling of his fingers were no longer on my cheek...a hand lightly placed itself above my heart...I could barely feel it physically, but it felt as if something spiritual emitted from it to my heart.
'Forever...' His voice whispered softly in my ear. 'Forever...you are mine...and I...am yours...'
A bond. A pact. We were now one, it seemed. A wave of light fatigue hit me...and I felt my body becoming heavy.
'Sleep...' I was gently placed onto my back, the grass cushioning me. Not once had I opened my eyes.
'Sleep...Kuroki...I will watch over you...'
His words lulled me to sleep. My mind's painting of the view from the hill began to darken, my world went black as sleep engulfed me.
Before I finally succumbed to sleep...I noticed...
That I was being embraced.
Where was she?
I frowned as I looked around the house for her. The bedroom we slept in was empty, the living room was occupied by Shiruba on the couch...
Aonami was in the back yard, hanging the clothes and Kuroi was with the Hokage.
I sighed as I ruled out that Kuroki was home. I already checked Dobe's apartment, it smelled horrible. That slob. I cringed at the memory.
She wasn't at Sakura's or Kiba's. No sign of her at the training grounds...
I face palmed as I remembered the spot on the grassy hill that overlooked the village.
Idiot! I scolded myself, exiting the house and jumping onto the roof. I saw her as a black blob from this distance, but it was definitely her.
How could I forget such a place? That's where our memories of each other were...with Itachi...I felt the pained feeling in my heart as I jumped from roof to roof towards her destination. She loved beautiful sights. She could stare at the ocean all day and not be bored.
We rarely went to the hill anymore, at least, I rarely did. We lived together, trained together, we were in the same damn team together. There wasn't a need to go to the hill.
Yet, on days like these where we weren't busy, she would disappear. I was usually training, and by the time I finished, she would be home. But I didn't need to do anything, since Kuroi had left to go meet the Hokage before we could finish our spar that usually lasted until nightfall and I already did my earlier training. The sun would start to set soon, though.
I landed silently on the grass. I was mildly surprised to see that she was asleep...I frowned as my heart jumped at the sight of her. How long had she been here?
She was laying down, sleeping peacefully with the grass rustling and brushing against her. Her hair was pushed out of her face and placed behind her ear to reveal her many dark piercings.
Had someone been here?! I growled, moving towards her and sitting beside her. She never brushed her hair behind her ear.
I frowned at her as I lightly brushed my fingers across her cheek. Sometimes it hurt too damn much whenever I looked at her, imagining what it would feel like if she were taken away from me.
I couldn't bare it. She was all I had, all I needed to survive. If she were gone, what would I do? Sure, there was Aonami, Kuroi and the rest of the gang...but they weren't as important to me as she was.
The image of her kissing Haku popped up in my head, and I shook my head to try and rid myself of the thoughts.
It was only a kiss. A simple...goodbye kiss.
"Kuh!" I ripped out some grass as anger and jealousy filled my head.
She was mine.
"I love you..." I whispered, staring at her sleeping form. "I love you so much, it hurts." I leaned down, grabbing her chin lightly and tilting it up as I kissed her.
My eyes shot open when I felt a hand cupping my cheek. I pulled back slightly, seeing her dark, mysteriously beautiful orbs stare into my onyx ones.
"I love you too..." She said softly, smiling. God! She's too beautiful! I brought my lips down onto hers again, and she kissed back. I ran my fingers through her hair as she did the same, grabbing a bunch of my hair lightly and pulling me closer, deepening the kiss.
I felt complete with her. I didn't care what anyone said.
I love her.
I was having a dreamless sleep, before I heard the familiar voice of Sasuke...he whispered to me.
"I love you..." His voice gave me shivers. He felt close, near me. "I love you so much, it hurts." My face began to tingle, someone was touching me.
I opened my eyes slowly when I felt lips upon my own. Sasuke...? He was here...his bangs were brushing against my forehead. Everything was brushing against me, it seemed.
Bringing my hand up slowly, I cupped his cheek. His closed eyes shot open to reveal his beautiful onyx eyes. I smiled as he pulled back slightly.
"I love you too..." I responded sincerely. His face darkened to a shade of red, but before I could respond to it with a witty comment, he brought his lips back to mine again.
That tingly sensation happened when he ran his fingers through my hair, and I did the same. Grabbing some of his hair gently, I softly pulled him closer to deepen the kiss.
After a few moments, we pulled apart to catch our breaths. I sat up slowly, my body feeling a little strange. He leaned back so we didn't smash our heads together.
My eyes widened. The sun was setting. I was asleep for that long? "How long has it been since we've seen the sunset from here?" I asked, not tearing my eyes away from the beautiful canvas of warm colours in the sky.
The grass rustled as he shifted closer. Our fingers intertwined and I leant my head on his shoulder. He rested his head on mine as we watched the slow but beautiful sunset.
"I don't know..." He replied softly.
"It's beautiful." I commented. Today was peaceful. If only there were more days like this one.
"You're the most beautiful thing in the world to me." He complimented smoothly. I grinned slightly and chuckled.
"You're smooth, Uchiha." I retorted playfully. He was smirking, I know it.
"I know."
I closed my eyes, sleep still plaguing my mind a bit.
"The chunin exams are coming soon." I remembered, it had been a few weeks since we came back from the land of Waves.
"Yeah. Kakashi-sensei said that he's going to nominate us to participate in it." Sasuke said. I opened my eyes, and I was suddenly very aware of something different with the Uchiha's legs.
"You're wearing long pants!" I exclaimed, pushing my head off his shoulder and examining his new pants with interest. He bent his legs and tried to move away.
"I am! Don't stroke my leg, dammit!" He yelled trying to pry my hands off his legs. He wore baggy pants like mine with the bandages wrapped around his shins. They were a darker shade of blue compared to his shirt.
"Why you wearing them?" I asked, looking to his flustered and frowning face that refused to look me in the eye at this moment in time.
"Maybe because I wanted to." He replied almost childishly, making me grin. "Will you let go of my leg now? It's weird."
I tackled him, forcing him to the ground with a thud. He automatically wrapped his arms around me as I laid on top of him with our foreheads touching.
"Cute Uchiha." I teased, moving to nuzzle his neck playfully.
"You're one to talk, Taidana." He sighed, tightening his grip on me slightly as if I would try to leave him.
The sun was gone and night had soon taken over, the moon's rays shining on the hill. The village's lights came on in a whirl of colours. I soon closed my eyes again as I laid on the Uchiha. He shifted so that we were both on our sides.
We stared at each other for a while. I blinked when I noticed someone's presence was nearby.
"Neji?" I looked up to see the Hyuuga sitting on the very top of the hill. He was staring out at the village before locking eye contact with me. Sasuke also looked up, seeming more hostile of him.
I rolled out of the Uchiha's grasp and laid on my stomach, propping my head up with my hands and looking up at him. Out of the corner of my eye, Sasuke sat up, none too pleased.
The two boys made eye contact, and I swear I heard the sound of lightning crackling from their eyes. The tension was thick between them.
"Hyuuga." Sasuke acknowledged through gritted teeth. The said Hyuuga smirked slightly as he glanced at me then back to the Uchiha.
"Uchiha." Neji replied, his voice sounding a little arrogant. "Did I interrupt something?" Ha! His tone of voice informs me that he knew he interrupted something and he's enjoying that fact. Bastard, he is.
"What do you think?" The raven-haired boy nearly spat, his irritation growing with the presence of the seemingly unwanted Hyuuga.
"No?" He tilted his head, and I felt like I heard something snap within the boy sitting next to me.
"What brings you here, Neji~?" I asked in an amused voice, gaining both their gazes. The pupil-less boy's smirk widened slightly.
"I saw you," He started, glancing to Sasuke just to piss him off further. "So, I came to say hi."
"Hi. You can go now." The Uchiha replied shortly and looked away.
"Kuroi-san told me to find you as well." Neji added, causing Sasuke to look back at him. "You're to meet him at the normal training ground to finish sparring."
I heard Sasuke click his tongue in annoyance. He moved to stand up, so I moved so I was sitting down with my legs crossed despite being on a slope.
"I'll see you later," The Uchiha said, moving towards me and leaning down. He grabbed my chin and lifted it up as he gently pressed his lips against mine. I felt the heated gaze of a certain Hyuuga.
I grinned as Sasuke smirked at me then jumped up to meet with Kuroi for sparring. Cheeky little shit.
"So you're dating him." I looked up to see Neji glaring in the direction Sasuke had ran off to. I stood up then trudged to the top the hill and sat next to him, crossing my legs again as I looked up to the moon.
"I don't know. He's never asked me to date him." I replied. We never really put an official tag on our relationship. I supposed that the gang already knew of our feelings for each other, so there wasn't a need to put a label on it.
"Yet he kissed you?" Neji asked, sounding skeptical. I glanced at him to see he was staring at me, waiting for an answer.
"You've kissed me and we weren't dating." I noted, remembering the day we sparred. He clicked his tongue.
"I didn't kiss you on the lips." He retorted.
"True," I agreed. "But it still counts."
"Hardly." He muttered, looking at the grass that was illuminated by the moon.
"This is our first conversation in how long? Really?" I nudged him, grinning. He sighed.
"I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking straight." He apologised, appearing to gain some of his calm demeanour back.
"It's fine. Can't help it if you're jealous." I teased, leaning back and giving him a devious look. He snapped his head towards me so quickly I hoped he didn't get whiplash or something.
"Jealous?!" Calm demeanour gone. "There's no reason for me to be jealous!" He snapped, which made me grin.
"The louder your denial, the truer it is." I retorted, earning me a glare and a punch to the shoulder. Good thing it didn't hurt.
"Shut up." He sighed as if he were dealing with a child.
"Ready for a proper conversation?" I asked, tilting my head as I waited for an answer.
"I don't have that much time left before I have to return back to the estate." Neji replied, sighing again for a different reason.
"And here I thought you had great control over your emotions." I commented, leaning back. I laid on the ground, using my arms as a makeshift pillow.
"I do. You just somehow make it hard to keep my composure."
"Blaming me, are you?" I smirked. "How rude, Neji."
I saw him smirk slightly. "I'm only being truthful." He replied, an amused tone in his voice.
"Just tell me how you've been, Hyuuga." I chuckled.
"Fine."
Peaceful day.
After saying goodbye to Neji, I had jumped from roof to roof; thinking.
Though Neji had lightened up some, he still had the idea that he had an inescapable fate. Still got annoyed with Hinata, but that's normal.
I landed on the roof of my house, which was a dark red colour. I jumped down to my window and opened it, jumping in and over my bed, landing on the carpet silently.
Might as well take a shower. I began to take off my clothes, leaving only my weights as usual. I grabbed the bath towel from the closet and made my way to the bathroom after putting it on.
I was not having another repeat of the incident that happened in the bathroom with...Sasuke...gah! So no more having baths with him, or at least with the monkey whom I made him kiss and do all that.
I shut the door of the bathroom and removed my bath towel, throwing it over the the shower curtain as I turned the shower on. Cold water sprayed down my body, I breathed deeply, learning my forehead against the tiled wall until it became a little warmer.
I flinched when hands lightly ghosted down my back. I frowned when I looked back to find the damn shadowy figure chuckling behind me.
"You're not going to let me shower in peace?" I asked, tilting my head at him. The water was beginning to heat up.
'Wouldn't it be nice...to have someone to talk to whilst cleansing yourself...?' He asked with a hint of amusement. I scoffed and turned back, grabbing the soap from its holder.
"I'm obviously naked, so it would make things a little awkward." I retorted, though I felt completely at ease with him being behind me in the damn shower.
'You don't seem to mind...' He whispered, grabbing a lock of my wet hair.
"How can I mind when you've already seen me naked more than a few times, and not to mention that you and I are connected." I replied, washing myself casually. It was strange how his voice was so soft compared to the shower, yet I could hear him clearly.
He chuckled softly. 'Would it be different if I took on a different form...?' He mused. I blinked, glancing back at him. He wasn't able to get wet, since the droplets went right through him.
"What the hell do you mean by that?" I frowned at him.
'I can look more human...if you wanted me to...' He explained.
"No." Was my instant reply and I returned to washing myself. "I like you as you are now."
'Mmm...that's interesting...'
"Mind letting me return to my thoughts?" I asked. He chuckled again.
'I'm always in your thoughts...' He disappeared from behind me, I sighed.
"I know. You're always with me, now and forever."
"BACON!"
"Quickly, Shiruba! Protect the bacon from the monkey!" I ordered the dog, who barked as a certain blonde boy barged into the house like it was his own.
"I smell bacon!" Naruto loudly announced as he appeared from the hall. Shiruba and I had shoveled down our share of bacon within seconds to protect it from the monkey boy.
"You'll have to wait then, Dobe." Sasuke said to the Uzumaki with a slight smirk. "Shiruba and Kuroki have already eaten the first batch."
"What?! NOO!" Naruto dramatically sunk to the floor as Shiruba and I breathed in the smell of triumph.
"Don't worry, Naruto-kun." Aonami smiled, holding a frying pan with sizzling bacon. "We have plenty more coming up."
"Really?! Thank you, Aonami-chan! You're the best!" The blonde piped up, jumping into one of the empty seats on the table and waiting eagerly.
Shiruba sat across from me, still sitting on the chairs. Sasuke was beside me whilst Naruto sat on the end, near me. Kuroi was lounging in the living room.
"We got a mission tomorrow!" Naruto grinned, apparently excited for the mission.
"Another one? You've already done so many missions in the past few weeks." Aonami stated, amazed that we already had done over twenty or so missions.
"Well, they're easy. Might as well do as many as we can." I replied, waiting for the new round of bacon.
"I think Kakashi-sensei has to meet with the Hokage tomorrow too, to nominate us after the mission." Sasuke stated, taking a bite of his omusubi. He'd already eaten all the tomatos on his plate.
"I think I have to play with Konohamaru tomorrow, after the mission." Naruto thought aloud, tapping his fingers on the table.
Shiruba simply barked happily. "So, are you sleeping over tonight, monkey?" I asked.
"Nah, I got to head home after. Iruka-sensei's going to treat me to some ramen." He grinned goofily.
"If you're already getting ramen, then why are you here?" Sasuke asked the gluttonous blonde.
"Because Aonami-chan's food is amazing!" He laughed. Aonami chuckled softly.
"Thank you, Naruto-kun."
"No problem!" He gave my mother the thumbs up, causing her to laugh.
"It's always lively with him around." I snickered to the Uchiha, who sighed.
"Sometimes it's too lively." He replied, exasperated.
"By the way," I looked at him, and he seemed to have a dark look in his eye. I sighed, I knew this would come up. "What's with you and Hyuuga?"
I waved a dismissive hand. "We're friends. No need to worry, Uchiha."
"Easy for you to do..." He muttered darkly. "You know how possessive I am."
"You're lucky I don't mind that about you." I grinned, my ear twitching at the sound of Naruto blabbing on to Shiruba.
He smirked, appearing to lighten up a bit. "I am." He began to lean in...
"Bacon's ready!" Aonami called.
"BACON!" Shiruba, Naruto and I immediately stood up and ran towards Aonami like our life depended on it.
"Stupid bacon." I heard Sasuke mutter.
I yawned as we met up at the bridge where we normally waited for the late copy ninja. I sat on the railing whilst Sasuke leaned on it, looking down the river. Naruto was on the floor, sleeping obnoxiously.
"Today might be an interesting day." I commented softly, staring down the river with half-lidded eyes still plagued by sleep.
I heard a certain Uchiha scoff. "Yeah, right. Why do we always have to wake up so damn early?" He asked bitterly.
"Don't be so emo, Uchiha." I yawned, hooking my legs onto the railing as I leaned back so I wouldn't fall into the river. "Least you don't have sleeping problems."
"You'd be surprised." He replied under his breath.
I grinned slightly. "Morning wood?"
"Shut up." I snickered as his forehead connected with the railing with a light thud.
It had been about three hours before Kakashi showed up. I was working on my water release since there was water around and I had nothing better to do.
"Morning guys!" Our sensei greeted us with that lazed enthusiasm. Sasuke and Naruto; who had woken up after I threw him in the river, glared at the jounin.
"You're late." The Uchiha pointed out irritably. He's not usually this bitter, I wonder what's up.
"YEAH! Why are you always late sensei, and none of your lame stories!" The blonde demanded of the copy ninja, who continued to have a pleasant expression.
"I got carried away whilst talking to a friend of mine." Kakashi said, which didn't seem too far from the truth. Sasuke huffed and Naruto blabbered about lies.
"Anyways." I voiced, scratching the back of my head. "Our mission?"
"Ah, yes. We're building a fence." The copy ninja informed us. My eye twitched at the trivial mission. We waited for three hours or so to build a fence?
"Gaah! Why? We still get boring missions." Uzumaki complained, sick of all the simple missions we've been doing for a while now.
"Just think of the money." I muttered, beginning to walk off.
The morning seemed dull. Whilst the two boys of my team bickered as they worked on the fence, Kakashi and I exchanged words as I worked as well. I think he noticed the change in my chakra, but said nothing.
Surprisingly, the fence took us until noon to finish. I yawned and stretched as we walked away from the finished fence.
A bird caught my eye, as well as Kakashi's.
"Ah, well." He blinked. "Looks like I have to go and report the mission in."
"Well, then I'm going home." Sasuke began to walk off, but stopped and turned back to me. "You coming?"
I smiled slightly, then began to walk after him. I heard footsteps approaching us so I turned to see Sakura walking towards us.
"Sakura-chan!" Naruto greeted the pinkette with a casual but wide grin and a wave. Sakura smiled and waved back at us all, ceasing to a stop when she was close enough to all of us.
I glanced around to find Kakashi gone, but I wasn't too worried about that.
"Hey, Naruto, Sasuke." She greeted the boys casually, then turned to me and her mouth formed a grin. "Kuroki, I have a date!" She squealed in delight. I blinked.
"What?" The blonde and I said simultaneously.
"Yes! He was this cute boy with messy black hair." She had this dreamy look in her eyes. Easily infatuated, then.
"Damn, and here I thought you and Kiba had a thing." I commented dully. The comment made the blonde snicker and the Uchiha to smirk in amusement. The pinkette's head snapped to me with such ferocity she could've snapped her own neck right then and there.
"What?! We don't have a thing! He's an idiot!" She huffed, folding her arms for effect. I grinned, then something caught my eye.
"Is that supposed to be a rock?" I asked, looking to the box with two holes coated in rock-like patterns behind Naruto. He spun around to see it too.
"You call that a rock, Konohamaru!" The monkey chided, pointing dramatically at it. The box lifted up to reveal Konohamaru and his little friends whose names I forget.
"That's the man I view as my rival!" The grandson of the Hokage announced.
Sasuke leaned on me in boredom as we watched the two converse.
"What's with the goggles?" Naruto asked as he put his hands behind his head.
Konohamaru snickered, then touched the goggles. "Heh, we're copying the old you, bro!"
"Might want to kill a few brain cells, kid." I commented, causing the kids to look over at me. "You're still not as stupid as he is, so best kill the brain cells if you want to copy him."
"Heh." Sasuke smirked. I'll see the shit smile, I will.
Sakura nodded her head in agreement. "Yep. Not sure anyone's going to be as dumb as Naruto."
"Hey! I'm not that dumb!" The monkey protested loudly. Konohamaru was on his side, it seems.
"Yeah, my bro is going to be the greatest ninja of all time!" He yelled at us. I knew that all three of us gave him blank looks.
"Snnrk!" Sasuke covered his mouth to attempt to cover up his leaking laughter. I covered my mouth to cover my own.
"Gah!" Naruto threw his hands up in exasperation, turning back to the kid. "What did you want, anyways?"
"You said we could play ninja!" They exclaimed. I breathed in deeply to stop my snickering, I made the mistake of making eye contact with the equally snickering Sasuke.
"Pfft! Hahahaha!" We lost our shit, then.
"Geez, you two." Sakura sighed. "And what the hell is a ninja doing playing 'ninja'?" She placed her hands on her hips, frowning at the blonde.
Konohamaru blinked at Sakura, then at me. "Hey, bro. Which one is your girlfriend?"
"Kuroki's obviously mine." A hand grabbed my waist and pulled me closer to the hand's owner. I sighed at his possessive nature.
"Then...this pinky's your girlfriend?" Konohamaru made a dirty grin. "Nice job, bro."
"A-Ah! N-No! Sakura-chan's just a frie-" Before Naruto could finish his denial, Sakura falcon punched him in the face.
"Haaah! I wouldn't be this imbecile's girlfriend!" She snarled at the Hokage's grandson who froze in shock and fear. "I have standards." She 'hmph'ed and looked away defiantly.
"How dare you!" The leader of the trio of kid's growled after snapping out of his stupor. The three of them ran to Naruto who smashed into the nearby fence.
"Leader! Don't die!" The female kid begged the blonde. Konohamaru glared at Sakura.
"You ugly bitch!" Oh. Oh, he's fucked.
"Sometimes I feel like I'm surrounded by idiots." Sasuke face palmed with his free hand. I grinned.
"We are." I replied, watching as Sakura's inner demon was emerging. In less than a few seconds, both Konohamaru and Naruto were nearly dead on the ground with new lumps on their heads.
Sakura walked towards us. "Idiots." She muttered.
"Damn it...that ugly huge foreheaded...is that even a girl? Seriously, bro?" Konohamaru groaned in pain and spite.
"Ahhh!" Naruto and the three kids ran as fast as they could from the demonic pinkette who was set on killing them. I blinked and grabbed Sasuke's hand, pulling him with me to a nearby tree. He silently obeyed, probably because I always did this.
"Grab some rocks too." He blinked at me, but grabbed some rocks on the way.
"We playing a game?" He smirked. I glanced back at him, giving him my smirk-grin that I hardly used anymore.
"We're playing a game with a murderer or two." I said softly. I heard a familiar wispy chuckle, causing me to shiver momentarily.
We sat on the durable branch together, watching as Konohamaru smashed into...Kankuro-OH, MY GOD!
"Pfft!" I covered my mouth and held my stomach in attempt to silence the terrifyingly strong urge to laugh. That fucking makeup, my fucking god! Ahha! How does no one find that funny?!
"That hurt..." I heard his voice as I tried to calm myself down. Sasuke managed to calm me down by kissing me on the cheek, which, I thought was cute. Even if it was me who was affected.
Kankuro picked up Konohamaru as Naruto yelled for the kid.
"We're going to get yelled at, Kankuro. Stop it." Temari half-heartedly attempted to stop her brother.
"Keh." The purple makeup boy sneered. "Stupid shit needs to pay."
"Got the rocks?" I glanced at him. He threw the rocks up in his hand and caught them again with a smug smirk.
"You're adorable." I leaned over and pressed my lips against his. He immediately kissed back.
"You're beautiful." He whispered. I grinned and leaned back, waving a dismissive hand at him.
"Oh, stop it you."
"YOU BASTARD!" Both our heads snapped back to where Naruto and the others were. Forgot they were there.
"Well, after this one. I'll take care of another midget." Kankuro raised his fist and was about to punch the Hokage's grandson. Wow. That sounds a whole lot more criminal than bullying a kid.
Sasuke tossed me a rock and we both threw it simultaneously at the ridiculous sand nin.
"Urgh!" Kankuro groaned as my rock smashed into his head and Sasuke's to his hand that held Konohamaru. The small force tipped him over and he nearly crashed into his sister.
"Hey!" She moved out of the way quickly, just as her brother gained his footing. I clicked my tongue.
"Dammit. I didn't hit him hard enough." I scolded myself, disappointed that I didn't make him fall.
"Sasuke! Kuroki-chan!" Sakura looked up at us in shock. "That's where you guys were?!"
"Shouldn't bully kids to get your self-esteem up." Sasuke smirked condescendingly at Kankuro.
"Geh. Another guy who pisses me off." The black-clad sand nin muttered, looking directly at Sasuke and ignoring me.
"Oh, hell no." I spoke, causing everyone's gazes to turn to me. "What was that? Looking directly at the male of us two like he was the only one who hit you. Pah! Bitch, I was the one who hit you in the head." I brought up my middle finger. "So fuck you for not acknowledging the pain I caused you."
"Ahahaha! Yeah, you go, Kuroki-chan!" Naruto cheered, bringing his fist into the air. Sakura face palmed.
"Always getting themselves into trouble..." I grinned at the pinkette.
"Tch! Why don't you both get down here? I hate show offs the most." Kankuro brought out his puppet. My eyes glanced to my right.
"Kankuro! You're even going to use Karasu?" Temari seemed a bit more eager to stop her brother.
"You sure you want to do that? I'm not too sure your brother would be pleased with you." I tilted my head, returning my gaze back to the two whose eyes widened apparently both in shock and fear.
"She's right. Stop it, Kankuro." Holy shit, that voice! Sasuke's head snapped to the right to see Gaara upside down on the tree branch near us.
"You're an embarrassment to our village." The murderous redhead insulted his brother without remorse. This is so exciting~.
"Ga-Gaara..." Kankuro and Temari both began to sweat nervously.
"Losing yourself in a fight, how pathetic...why do you think we even came to the leaf village?" Gaara's cold sea foam eyes never left the form of his inferior brother. Whoa, they're pretty.
"Pfft, that wasn't even a fight." I blurted out without thinking, like usual. I felt all eyes on me again, even a particularly cold pair. So much for never leaving the form of his brother.
"You can say that again." Sasuke commented in agreement, though appeared to be still confused about Gaara's stealth. Frankly, I was expecting it so it didn't worry me much.
"Tch! Listen, Gaara...they started it so..." Kankuro tried to excuse his way out of it, but his brother's murderous gaze returned to him in an instant and he froze in fear.
"Shut up...or I'll kill you."
"Okay, I'm sorry..." His brother caved.
"I'm also sorry, really sorry." As did his sister.
"Sorry to you guys." Gaara glanced at us and I smiled. I noticed his eye lids widen a fraction before he was surrounded by a whirl of wind and leaves and disappeared.
He reappeared on the ground in the middle of his siblings.
"It looks like we got here early, but we didn't come to play around." He stated.
"I know that..." Kankuro muttered.
Gaara turned around to leave. "Let's go."
"Wait!" Sakura stepped forward and the sand siblings looked back at her.
"What?" Gaara asked.
"Judging from your forehead protectors, you guys are ninjas from the sand village right?" The pinkette frowned. "You're here for the chuunin exams?"
I stood up from the branch, and jumped down, landing silently. I placed my hands in my pockets as Sasuke soon followed, standing beside me.
"You got your passes?" I asked, tilting my head at them. Kankuro glared at me, and I poked out my tongue.
"Kuh!" He growled in displeasure. Temari brought out her pass for us to see.
"Yeah, we're from the sand village and have come here to take the chuunin exam." She stated, putting the pass away.
"Heh! We're going to be in that exam, Konohamaru!" Naruto grinned at his...rival?
Sasuke turned more towards Gaara. "Hey, you. What's your name?"
Temari gushed and leaned forward. "Huh? You mean me?" I scoffed subtly in amusement.
"No. You with the gourd." Sasuke clarified coolly.
Gaara was quiet for a moment, looking from Sasuke to me and back again. I blinked. "Gaara of the desert."
"I'm also interested in you...both." Whoa. "Your names?"
Sasuke smirked. "It's Uchiha Sasuke." Gaara's eyes shifted to me once again. I tilted my head, smiling slightly.
"Taidana Kuroki." I was a little intrigued by the way the sand siblings' eyes widened even if slightly.
"Taidana?" Temari repeated. "No way."
I glanced to the side as I assumed Sasuke and Gaara were having a bit of a dramatic staring contest. I felt a familiar hand once again grab my waist and pull me closer. A show of possession...what? Was someone looking at me?
"HEY! What about me?! Huh?!" Naruto jutted his thumb towards himself as he loudly reaffirmed his presence. The redhead narrowed his eyes, but he narrowed them at me since he didn't bother shifting his gaze to the monkey.
"Not interested." Gaara turned. "Let's go."
"Gaara." I called casually. He paused, and looked back but said nothing. I grinned at him. "I like your eyes."
I could've guessed that everyone's eyes widened pretty widely at my random comment. Even Gaara appeared to be momentarily shocked.
"What?"
"You heard me." I tilted my head as I scratched my neck. "I said I liked your eyes. You rarely get compliments, don't you? I should compliment you more, then." I grinned mischievously, earning myself gasps.
The leader of the sand siblings stayed silent, then turned back around. "Let's go." I wonder if he thought I was mocking him.
They all jumped and were gone just like that. Naruto and the others began to converse, Sasuke removed his from my waist to hold off the monkey who was pissed about being ignored. Of course Sasuke was at fault.
My eyes darted to the trees, and I saw the three who were under that snake's command. The one whose face was wrapped up save for his eye made contact with mine. We were locked in a deadly staring contest. I cracked a dark smile as I felt the urge to start a bloody fight surge through me.
"The chuunin exams, huh?"
'No doubt...this will be interesting...'
DOONE~. Finally. I think that was a good chapter, I must say. We met Gaara, after all. Did you all like it? I hope so. Leave a review if that's not too much trouble. Still looking for an official love rival for Kuroki. Because making Sasuke jealous is fun.
Hope you all enjoyed.