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Anger makes you smaller, while forgiveness forces you to grow beyond what you were. — Cherie Carter-Scott, "If Love Is a Game, These Are the Rules"

Chapter 17: Let the Games Begin!

I watched him as he stared back at me. Yep, he defiantly wasn't acting any different, Tsunade... Our eyes penetrated each others, daring one of us to break the connection. We both had thick, long lashes, which I never noticed before. I had only met Itachi a few times but I did notice that Sasuke was slowly growing up to be like him, yet not at the same time. They both held a cool, calm exterior – it was either breath-taking or frightening. Breath-taking because it kept you guessing, frightening because if you made them the slightest bit angry their look would be killing without even trying. Utterly, desirably, dangerously addictive...
Danger always did find its way to creep up on me...
Then at the same time, they both weren't the same. Sasuke was growing up to look somewhere in-between sexy and hot. Whist Itachi had more of a girly sexiness to him; something that gays had, always making girls ask 'why is it that the gay guys are always the hot ones?' but he didn't act feminine, erasing the homosexual label from girls lips.
Two deadly men with looks that you could die for – a chilling mixture.
His raven hair was shorter then what I remembered —I only just noticed his looks now, hence my description— and he still didn't wear the Leaf's headband. His facial features were becoming more defined, chiselled – he was becoming more of an eye candy... His skin was smooth and pale, making it look almost fake – unrealistic; making me want to reach out, to feel if he was truly there...
Why am I even noticing this about Sasuke now? Since when did I look at peoples looks!
I stood up. He slowly blinked, looking at me. Then I walked away to get ready for the day, and felt his eyes follow my hips as I moved, making my lip pull in confusion.

"So, how are you today, Duck-Butt?" I asked with my elbow on his shoulder as I leaned against him when we walked.
His black eyes looked at me. "Fine. How about you, Spastic?" His deadly lips twitched upwards in mild amusement.
I raised an eyebrow. "Good as well, Hunky."
This time it was his turn to raise a fine eyebrow. "...Hunky?" He said it more as a statement than question, almost making me seem dumb... But I knew he didn't mean it like that.
I shrugged. "It was either that or horny. I thought hunky would have made more sense." I was getting funny looks from people, either because I had my arm on him that my head was leaning against, or because of what I was saying...
He sent a foul look to the watchful people, telling them to fuck off. "It does. Why horny?" He questioned, slightly curious.
I shrugged again. "Well, boys are always horny, so why not?" He looked at me blandly. "What?" I smirked. "Unless you're trying to tell me that you have no penis..." Cross dresser!! He glared at me from my declaration.
"So you— so, girls don't get horny then?" He said, turning my statement back on me.
I would have glared at him for basically saying that I had no pleasure or desire in my life, if I did not think any better of it. A feral smirk came to my lips. "No, of course not. Not when we get the boy painfully up and then leave him there sweating it out; where would be the fun for us if the guys were jerks to us first?" Now that was one of my first sort of lies I had ever said, I detest liars. Of course we get horny and we aren't really that cruel, I hope. And I also sorta said that to mean (in one of my weird, indirect ways) that I still have not fully forgiven him; I will treat him as an enemy if he hurts me one more time...
He winced from that thought; hey, so he did get what I meant. Then he brushed it off, "So in other words, you're frigid." He looked at me ruthlessly.
My mouth flew open, totally stunned and lost for worlds. He was playing my game, and he was winning!! My ass I'm frigid! I knew he was joking but come on! I am not frigid! "I haven't even had a boyfriend!" I just haven't found the right guy for me...
An emotion flickered over his face too quick for me to interpret. "Whatever," he said, lightly smirking; he knew he had won when my mouth flew open from his comment, damn bastard...
"You know, you two have the strangest conversations..." A bored voice said. I became ridged; did he hear that crude sentence I said? "And yes Jade, I did hear what you said; I never knew you could be... Oh, what do you kids call it? Ah yes, perverted..."
I looked at Kakashi over my shoulder, biting my lip. He better not give me the sex talk...
"Oh, I will, but not right now, we have a mission."
"Hey! Stop guessing my thoughts!" I said annoyed...and embarrassed? I shook my head. Since when did I get embarrassed!
I'm going to hate this talk! I furtively grinned. "Why do I need to have the sex talk? I'm more mature then Sasuke!" Ha, payback for winning my game. Black eyes glared at mine, and not too playfully this time, either...
.:Kakashi's view:.
I looked up from my book. "Humm..." I giggled to myself. "I'll talk to the both of you then."
They both spun around to face me, Jade looked mortified while Sasuke atrociously glared. Then they looked at each other, baring their perfect teeth menacingly. "This is your fault!" They both growled out.
Heh, they act like children together, sometimes...

Sasuke had his hands in his pockets, brooding; Jade was listening, irritated; Naruto had a dazed look on his face; Sakura was listening intently; and I was just relaxed as I half listened.
Her elbows were leaning on the desk, her fingers where laced together and her head was resting on them as she looked at us seriously. "Welcome, Team Seven. First, I have your mission details. And second, I have an announcement to make," Tsunade informed.
"Mmhumm," Jade murmured as she half sat on Tsunade's desk. "We're listening." Her hair's blue tint dulled in the darkened light, making her skin look paler than its slight tan.
Tsunade scolded at her once part-time pupil for her careless actions. Jade's green-blue eyes looked into Tsunade's honey brown ones with playful mirth. "Team Seven," Tsunade said, breaking the connection, "you will be escorting someone for a couple of months. This person is extremely important, so you will have to keep your guard up for most of your trip."
Sakura's light emerald irises stared with responsibility. "Where are we exactly escorting this person to?" She asked.
Tsunade's eyes drifted away from ours and kept a strong, worried gaze on Jade when she spoke. "Storm Country."
Jade's eyes blinked as she slowly turned her head away from a painting to blankly stair at Tsunade. "Why us?" Jade lowly hissed, hoping we couldn't hear.
Tsunade closed a mission report scroll, distracting herself. "Because you are the most compatible team for this mission, you are all highly specialised in different areas and are good for travelling..." She didn't finish her sentence, deciding against it. She thought it would have been an insignificant meaning. She decided we would find out for ourselves, that we would decide our own answer during our mission.
Jade turned away, crossing her arms over her chest as she harshly looked at the floor from the petty answer she received.
"Why there," Naruto asked, looking at Jade with a sad, brotherly-like fondness. Jade did tell certain people little bits of her past and where she came from. "And who exactly are we taking? Why are they so important...?"
Tsunade looked at him, annoyed from the bombarding amount of questions that kept escaping his mouth. She held her hand up, silencing him. It didn't work. Though, I heard a groan and looked.
Her fisted arm was outstretched as her pink eyebrow twitched. "Shut up, Naruto. God! How is she supposed to answer you if you don't let her!"
"Dobe..." Sasuke added, making the blond quickly stand back up with a pounding head, growling at the calm, smartass Uchiha.
Tsunade stood up with a loud, splitting slam of her hands hitting her desk. "QUIET!" She yelled at the two bickering, rolling boys. They both stoped trying to choke each other and straightened out to listen to the fuming women. She breathed, tucking behind a blond, loose strain and slouched back into her chair. "You will be escorting Princess Kumo." She looked at me, knowing full well that I knew about this situation. We had both briefly talked about it: our suspicions, misunderstandings and assumptions. She was warning me to not say anything to my team unless we did get right what she and I thought.
Jade frowned. "Since when did they have a princess, little own a ruler?" Her piercing, cat-like eyes searched Tsunade's with disbelieve.
"Since now."

.:Jade's view:.
"Since now," a snobby voice said behind us. My team looked.
A girl about our age stood there. I frowned in disapproval. Her hair and clothes were what stood out the most on her. She had long dull-black hair that reached to her lower back and she wore a tight, fitted dress. Her dress had thin straps holding it up, a low collar that showed a fare bit of cleavage and the dress tightly fitted like a second skin until it reached her hips, where it puffed out till it finished inches before her knees. Her dress's main colour was white but it had green swirly patterns that looked like flames.
She looked like a fighter, but not a very good one. The white-ish dress stuck out like a sore thumb, yet at least it looked light and comfy enough...
I stopped my assessing when she interrupted me. "Eh. Could you stop looking at me, you lesbian!"
My eye twitched and my team either looked uncomfortable or annoyed – except for Sakura, she looked like she was slightly smiling from the comment I received, but I could also see she didn't like this girl, too. "Gladly, my eyes were starting to cry because of your ugly face," I retorted as I turned around to face Tsunade again. Well, I didn't even see her face, but oh well Kumo doesn't need to know that.
I heard her huff. "Keep that lezzo away from me!"
"She's not lesbian! She loves huyhjske—" I grabbed Naruto's mouth, shutting him up.
"Naruto," I hissed quietly, "do you really want to finish that sentence and have no balls?" He shook his head, and I warmly smiled as I took my hand away. "Good."
 I went and stood next to Sasuke. "So what was your second thing? The announcement you had for us, Team Seven? I want get away from this bit—" Tsunade gave me a hard look. "—uutieful girl as soon as possible so she gets to her humble country that loves her dearly." I almost gagged when I had to change my words.
"Ah, yes, I almost forgot. You four are now officially team seven, Sai has been permanently moved off your team due to too many people..."
"WHAT! HOW IS THAT GOOD NEWS, GRANNY T?!" Naruto yelled.
She looked at him annoyed. "I never said it was." Just then Shizune walked in, making Tsunade smirk. Then she looked back at us. "Ok, ok. Has everyone got all that? Good. Out!" We all slowly walked out of her office as she said to Shizune, "Have you got it...?"

"Sasuke?!"
I heard a faint what?
"You did the washing this week, right?" I softly heard him walk to my room; as you can see we were getting ready for the mission.
"Yeah?"
As much as I hated to ask him this, I still did. "Where's my black and red bra then?" he came in just as I finished saying that.
His face looked indifferent as he watched me attack my room for it. "It should be here... I washed it." He walked back out; his face looked slightly flustered when I chucked some black and red lacy undies that matched my bra on my bed to be packed. I shrugged after he left; I like red and black...

I grumbled through the hallway, curse words freely flying from my mouth. I need that bra! It has great stability and it's comfortable... It looks good too! I don't even have enough time to buy another bra like that before the mission, which is very soon!
The only room left was Sasuke's to search through. I flung his door open without knocking, damned if he was butt naked; I didn't care at all right now. He turned without a shirt on, frowning as I almost didn't ignore him. Nice abs! I almost slapped myself silly for thinking that. I shook my head and went pass him to go to his drawers. I searched through their contents until I finally came across red. It was right at the bottom and I yanked it out, accidently bringing some other clothes with it. "Yes!" there, dangling in my hand, was my long loss bra...that also had a pair of his black satin boxers hanging from it. I frowned and turned to him.
His arms were crossed over his still bare chest, his nice, sculpted muscles slightly flexed from his posture. My eyes looked back down to his nicely formed abs and just stared. My tongue ran over my teeth as my eye's slowly worked their way back up his body to look at his eyes. Sharingan blazing, the three tomoe's furiously circled the pupil. He was smirking, I blushed from what I just did with my tongue and chucked his boxes at him, saying that he would need these, and quickly retreated from his dark room...

--XXXXXXXXXX--

She stalked up to him, hips swaying, head held high and chest puffed out. He glared. I leaned against the gate's post as I looked their way. I heard the person cough next to me. I looked. She had violet hair and an ANBU mask that had an abstract pattern on it. "Hey breeze."
"Jade." I could hear the smile in her voice. "How's it being in the little league again?"
"Fine," I replied. Sasuke menacingly glared at the flirtatious princess and went over to the hyperactive Naruto. A small smile came to my lips.
She was looking at what I was looking at and then saw my face. "Heh. I can see that."
I rolled my eyes. "We're only friends."
"Suureee..." She looked back out, keeping a watch on the village. "You know when he came to the village I was the person keeping guard? I was so fucken close to killing him that day, ya know? Ha, and the funny thing is, it was you who stopped me..."
"Jade, time to go," Kakashi called as everyone was already walking without me. He nodded to Breeze, she acknowledged him back.
"Alright!" I looked back to her confused about what she said...
"You better go." She smirked. "Heh, this time you will have to save him, not your team," she said as she briefly looked at the princess pestering Sasuke again.
I frowned more; she had a double meaning to her sentence, I'm sure of it. She always did. "See ya round." I grinned coolly.

It had been a couple of hours and Princess Kumo was already pissing me off. She's so bloody, fricken annoying! Ha I'm surprised Sasuke hasn't killed her yet!
We were having another break for her. I felt warm breath on the back of my neck, making shivers run up and down my spine. I snapped my eyes open and slowly brought my head around to look. Dark gray eyes connected with mine. I flinched away and almost fell if it wasn't for him catching me. "I don't see how you were an ANBU captain..." He responded flatly, when he steadied me up.
I was about to open my mouth to make a snappy reply, but he walked away; the team was already moving and I didn't even notice...

"Thanks..." for getting me when everyone was leaving, before... A small smile came to my lips as we were walking side by side through the narrow walkway the foliage provided us.
He kept his mesmerising, cold, dark eyes forward, not looking at me. "Couldn't have you lose us out here. Don't want to look and have to stay any longer."
Thank god I get his language a bit or else I would have wacked him for being a bastard.
Our shoulders brushed each other, absentmindedly, as we walked. Each time our skin met, tingles travelled up and down my arm and my stomached clenched uncomfortably. I inched away, I didn't want this, but I did want to be friends. I'm scared, what is wrong with me?

.:Kakashi's view:.
It was darker, and the scenery was drastically changing from us slightly getting closer to Strom Country. When we get there, it was going to look entirely different; that is what it's known for, now. Up in front, the order went, me, Naruto, Sakura, Princess Kumo and then Jade and Sasuke were walking beside each other at the very back of the line. "Jade?" I asked as I slightly looked back at them.
She looked up. "Yes?" She replied quickly.
This was going to sound very out of the blue. "You're an Aquarius, right?"
Her head cocked to the side. "Yeaahh?"
I smiled; thought so. "What's your moon in?"
She looked at me critically. "…Cancer."
..Hehe interesting…"Sasuke, you're a cancer, right?" I then asked.
"Hn... Yes." He coldly looked at me, analysing.
Teehee. "What's your moon in?
"Aquarius..."
Hehe, so that's why they can never stay angry with each other for very long, they're the perfect couple!
They then looked at each other, small surprise evident on their faces.
"Well, I'm a Scorpio!" Princess Kumo broke in, looking at Jade with jealousy for being next to Sasuke.
"Libra!!" Naruto yelled out proudly.
Her hands were behind her back as she walked. "I'm an Aries." Sakura said happily.
I looked back ahead with a small smile. Looks like my team is starting to get used to each other, again...

.:Jade's view:.
It was getting close to nightfall and surprisingly, the princess has some speed. We had covered a fare bit of ground, which I'm quite happy about. But I'm getting sick and tired of all the insults she throws around to everyone, especially me. But she doesn't say anything bad to Sasuke-kun, only praises the Uchiha.
"Hey ugly!" The princess screeched at me because I kept ignoring her.
I flatly looked at her as she advanced on me. I raised an eyebrow from her antics. "What?"
"Get me some water!" She ordered.
I curtsied with my black skinny jeans. "Why yes, your royal prissiness." I said mockingly. I stood back up and crossed my arms. "I am not your slave."
 She huffed and held her head high as she was about to walk away, while sticking her nose up high in the air. "Wait till my father hears about this!" She said all high and mighty, trying to scare me.
"...Wait," I said with a smirk. She turned around, thinking that I changed my mind and was going to be at her hands and knees – at her every beck and call. "...You have weird eyes." They were a green-blue like mine, but they were a darker, uglier shade... and they were also shaped funny.
She huffed. "Beg your pardon! They are not weird! They are beautiful and exotic, and this is because of my extremely famous and strong and sexy clan!" She snapped furiously.
My face didn't change, I looked at her deadpanned. "Aha, sexy... And that would be who?"
"Mochidzuki!" She announced proudly – haughtily.
Hn, snooty girl... "Huh, never heard of them before..." Yet somehow, they sounded somewhat familiar...
"Of course you wouldn't have with your dim, unknowable brain," she snide, "and also because we changed our name so someone wouldn't come back for us, you stupid, filthy peasant!"
I hated how her mouth moved, I hated how she holds herself, I hate it how she acts so upper-class, so snobbery. It's disgusting how someone could be like this – act like this! I growled darkly and stormed away.
Oh I wish I could kill her! Damn Kakashi for stopping me earlier!

It was finally night time. Hooray, no more having to hear a snooty girl jabber in everyone's ear! A small, pleasurable smirk came to my lips from the thought of delectable sleep.
"Sooo... Who's sharing with who? Jade doesn't have Sai to share a tent with anymore and Ku— Princess Kumo also needs to share, too," Naruto asked, pointing me out to my disappointment. We had already set the tents up for the first time during our mission, and I didn't particularly care, little own want to share with anyone.
The princess then stood up and quickly latched onto Sasuke's arm again, probably making her curves press into his (now diseased) arm. "I wanna share with my Sasuke-kun!" She announced as Sasuke affectively pushed her away from him, harshly. He moved away from her with a sour, disgusted face; he really did not like her – detested.
Kakashi walked to his tent as he read his orange porno book. "Jade, Sasuke together. Sakura, Kumo together. Naruto, by yourself," he said without another thought. I swear I saw him smile when he put me and Sasuke together. I pursed my lips unhappily.
"What a slutt," the princess murmured about me. My eye twitched. "God! You insignificant, dirty peasant! Why do you slutty little thing, get to sleep with my Sasuke-kun? Huh?"
My lip kept twitching upwards and I closed my eyes. My teeth grounded together as my eyes shot open spitefully. I didn't reply. No body. And I mean nobody! Calls me a slut!
"How come I'm by myself?!" Naruto said loudly, having a hysterical fit without noticing our tension.
She jabbed her finger into my side, roughly; I snarled. "First you sleep with this Sai guy, now my guy! You fucken little whore!"
Sakura quickly started pulling the princess nervously away from my darkened look. "Hehe, come on Kumo, time for us to go to sleep..."
My hand clenched and unclenched. I brought my hand up to do hand signals while I advanced on the princess. Bitch! Just as I finished the first two signs my vision got blurred as I was quickly pulled down by my wrist.

When I opened my eyes I glared at the person who roughly ripped me away from my target; blue-green eyes met with black ones. "Sasuke!" I snapped angrily as I fidgeted around, trying to get off his body that was tangled with mine. I am going to kill that wretched girl!
He rolled us over, pinning me to the ground. I struggled more, making his hold tighten on my wrists and basically lay his whole body on mine to make me immobilised. "Calm down," he calmly murmured close to my ear.
My teeth gritted together as I harshly breathed, glaring at his hair that my angle of vision only provided me of him. I could see his dark hair move from my erratic breathing, and I could also see goose bumps on the area of this neck that my breath blew onto.
I was getting so warm, he was so warm. I closed my eyes and bit my lip, willing myself to calm down. One by one, I felt my stiff muscles loosen. I breathed deeply then opened my eyes and met smouldering black ones boring into mine. I froze; suddenly I could feel every fibre of my being on fire from his touch. I shut my eyes again No, this can't be happening again! No! A mask replaced my feelings and I smirked. "...You like it there, don't you?" I said sneakily.
He scolded and got off me. I almost didn't catch what he said next, which made me freeze again, but I shook my head, dismissing the crazed thought; I think I need to get my hearing checked when we get back home. But anyway, I swear I heard him say, maybe I do. You did too...

We were getting ready for bed, which resolves to me being lazy and not telling him to leave the tent for me to get dressed, and makes me end up undressing and redressing in my sleeping bag; a very hard chore.
"Ask next time," I heard Sasuke state as I finished with my last article of clothing.
"No."
"It would be easier."
"It's entertaining," I countered.
He raised an eyebrow and smirked, agreeing to my unclothing and reclothing struggles.
I stuck my tongue out, and he rolled his eyes about my stubborn childishness.

I wanted to know what happened at Orochimaru's, but I knew he wouldn't answer me, yet. I knew I would have to wait for him; one day he would come around, I hope...
My eyes stared blankly into the darkness. It was going to get colder when we get closer to Storm and I don't want to know the outcome because of it... I rolled onto my other side and saw red. We stared at each other. I tightened my sleeping bag around my neck. "Huh, can't sleep?" I whispered, trying to lighten the mood. I could see the faintness of dragon breath when I spoke. It was going to become so so cold.
"Hn."
"Hn," I mimicked. I could see he was tense. Was he always on guard?
He smirked before rolling over to face the tents wall.
I lightly smirked myself and went to sleep; like old times.

You can't set the bird free from its cage unless you unlock it yourself...
The world has time, while time is thinned for the people who live in it.
Unlock me when I am not broken...

--XXXXXXXXXX--

Must. Keep. My. Distance. From. Him! Why? He makes me feel funny – unusual. I do not like the feeling; I don't like how my body reacts...
I wryly looked at the ground.
"Jade, that is not keeping alert." Kakashi sighed.
I glared at the back of his head. I heard someone snort, snobbery, and I looked.
"Pathetic..." Kumo said.
Oh ha-haa... says the one who looks like a weak fighter and the one that whines all the time about, my feet are sore! I so hope I get a chance to fight her, especially since she did say she was going to tell daddy on me. I smirked.
Kumo was clinging onto his arm for dear life, probably strangling his innocent arm from blood circulation. I sorta felt sorry him, poor poor Sasuke.
Ok, so I want to keep my distance from him, but I do want to be his friend, a good one again. So what do friends do for each other? Protect. And that is what I was going to do (as well as getting even with the princess bitch). I sucked in a breath and winked at Naruto, telling him I was going to do what I used to do for Sasuke so long ago. He grinned; he wasn't too fond of the princess as well. Sakura slyly smiled at me too. Huh, looks like we have an understanding once again? I smiled a little back at her before I walked over to Sasuke and the princess, which were in front of Naruto, Sakura and I.

I strutted over; hips swaying as my eyes were fixed upon the two – my targets, my game. I slyly smirked. "Hey, Sasuke-kun," I said as I let my finger slowly run down his arm, I could feel his muscles tense under my touch. "Sorry about me not being able to talk to you as much this mission..." I let my sentence drift off as I stopped in front of them, pretending to think. I could see in the corner of my eye, the princess glaring at me from her arm-clinging spot, and also, Sasuke secretly smirking from knowing what I was doing. Hehe, some fun on this annoying mission.
"What do you want, dirty low-life?! Can't you see that Sasuke and I want to be alone, together?!" The princess snapped.
I blinked. I didn't think she would actually say something. I thought she would have said, if anything, something like, eh, well of course! Why would he talk to you when I'm around?!... Great, this changes my plans. I pondered on my next tactic as I was still standing in front of them; we had stopped walking so Naruto and Sakura were gradually coming closer to us. I gave Sasuke a 'supposably' cute smile as I held my hand out, beckoning him to come.
"Eh! What do you want filth?" She held Sasuke back when he tried getting away. He gave me an agitated look, almost pleadingly. "Some whores just don't know when to quit, don't they Sasuke?" She said as she tried pulling him away.
He became deadly silent when she said that to him...
I almost glared at the stuck-up girl, but instead I kept my cool and shot something out that I didn't think about, something that I didn't want to get messed up in. Fuck, fuck, fuck! I could still hear the words repeating in my head, he's my boyfriend. He's my boyfriend. He's my boyfriend... Those words kept taunting me, torturing me. I almost slapped a hand over my mouth when I had said that, and I think Sasuke noticed because he quickly escaped the princess's clutches when she blankly stared at me, stunned, and stood next to me, almost like he was trying to prove my words to her. Bustard.
She snapped out of her trance and glared at me, pathetically too, might I add. "I don't believe you!" And just when she said it Sasuke sneaked his hand into mine and darkly glared at her, I almost flinched away. She eyed our entwined fingers. "Since when!" She ordered.
Sasuke's mouth opened to answer. "The other night," I shot out quickly, stopping him from talking. His dark eyes connected with mine; I raised an eyebrow, almost like telling him to shut-up-and-let-me-talk sort of way. I don't think he really liked my answer by the hidden look in his eyes as he stared at me. What? I thought it was a pretty good answer; it crosses out us having to kiss and shit! It also crosses out a whole heap of other questions we may have to answer her, probably. I nodded to myself, agreeing. It defiantly was a good answer!

Everything was becoming denser, the temperature was becoming colder, and the atmosphere was thicker and damper; we would be there soon, I would be home soon...
My home... It didn't sound nice on my tongue; it kinda freaked me out. Memories from my past would be dug up, secrets would be found, and my answers would soon be answered. This is something I have been avoiding all of my life, something I always ran from. But now I suppose it was time for me to get some backbone and suck it up no matter how bad it could be – if it was bad.
So many memories left scattered...
I let my fingers run along some damp leaves, wetting my fingertips so a new sensation would spike me instead of remembering that Sasuke was still holding my other hand. I swear he was some sort of bad medicine; he was making me sick, a drug that was deadly...
Fuck, I wish I never went and tried to protect him from the princess out of 'friendship'. I don't see why I did it in the first place. He's been a terrible friend, if I can even call him that right now. We never did make it official; all I did was forgive him when he took me to our once special friendship tree.

Sakura was keeping alert but then, all of a sudden, she got a bright smile on her face...
I tilted my head to the side, confused about her sudden mood change.
"Hey, Kakashi-sensei," she said joyfully, "after this mission, don't we get a break?"
The silver haired man briefly looked up from his book. "Hum? Yes...?"
She then clasped her hands together as she started to look more joyful.
Her face was starting to freak me out; how can someone look so happy it's scary?
"What is everyone going to be doing on their break?" Her witchy green eyes darted around to everyone, minus the princess.
"I'm going to hang with Hina-chan!" Naruto boasted. "And I'm going to eat ramen, train, ramen, sleep, eat some more ramen, annoy granny T., ask Hina-chan on another date, eat beef ramen—" Kakashi then wacked him on the head with his orange book.
"HEY! What was that for— Oof!" he then got wacked on the head again. "WHAT THE HELL KAKASHI-SENSEI?!" Naruto then tried getting the book from him.
I rolled my eyes. "I think that's his way of shutting you up about ramen, Naruto... NARUTO! I SAID... ah forget it!" I stopped trying to tell him as he kept trying to take the orange porno book off him – he wasn't listening to me, he was too preoccupied trying to get it.
I looked back at Sakura and saw that she was questionably staring at me. I shrugged; I didn't know. Train?
Her eyes then drifted to Sasuke's, silently asking him now.
"Hn..." I swear I felt his hand squeeze mine after he said that...? I frowned a little confused.
He wiped his forehead, cleaning off the small gather of sweat, from struggling with Kakashi. "What about you Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked when he had stopped trying his impossible, angered task with Kakashi's book; we had all learnt quite a long time ago that you can't separate Kakashi from the vilely descriptive book.
Her pink hair slightly swirled in the small breeze. "Might help out at the hospital some more and may hang with Ino." She smiled.
The Princess flicked her hair behind her shoulder, trying to be sexy, as she flirtatiously stared at Sasuke. She started twirling a lock of her dull, black hair around a finger. "Well, I'm going to be doing something... tasteful..." She then suggestively winked at Sasuke.
Great... Now I'll have to pretend more from her 'comment'. I hatefully glared at her, she recoiled. Sasuke then smirked at me for playing along. I looked at him and rolled my eyes, but smirked back anyway.

Night
We were all ready for bed and Sasuke and I had already migrated to our tent. I was sitting cross-legged in my sleeping bag as I faced him, lying in his sleeping bag. "Soo..." Dragon breath fanned out as I talked, "how is this going to 'work'?"
He shrugged. I pouted.
"Well... we could do what we were doing?" I felt awkward as I suggested this; I didn't even want any of it!
 His eyes flickered to mine before he reclosed them. Ok... I take that as a yes?
I scrunched my nose up in annoyance and laid down thinking he was being stubborn tonight. I huffed. Moody.
A somewhat comfortable silence came between us. Rattling winds, and mine and his low breathing settling in my ears, was all could be heard. Somehow, I almost always felt comfortable around him, even if he was in one of his crabby moods. I supposed I didn't particularly care now, probably because I was used to his behaviour, sort of...
I was facing away from him, laying down in my sleeping bag now, and shivered. Small puffs of dragon breath escaped my mouth when I breathed. Fuck, it's so cold! I tightened the sleeping bag around me and hugged myself, trying to consume heat for a good night's sleep.
It wasn't working; as the night slowly drifted on, the temperature dropped. My body went through small spasms as the coldness prickled my skin. I shut my eyes tightly and bit my lip, willing myself to sleep – forcibly.
"Come here." Came his rich, deep voice; it was an order.
My lips pursed. Did I imagine that? I rolled over and saw he was still awake. "What?" I asked unsure.
I could see he was on the verge of glaring at me. I smirked from his annoyance. He got an indifferent look. "Now," he demanded.
What?! I started to roll over slowly, sluggishly, and heard a zip undo. Huh? I was about to make the last lazy roll, crossing the invisible border line to make it into his territory, but a hand pressed against my back, stopping me from going any further. Suddenly I felt coldness connect with my back and squeaked, then coldness surrounded my whole body, and then warmth pressed against my back. An arm went over my body and started zipping the sleeping bag back up; his skin was warm and soft, yet hard from his toned muscles; I was frozen as his arm had to lightly slide across and up the side of my body. When the sleeping bag was zipped back up his arm lazily hung around my waist... I became ridged. It was bad enough that my back was already pressed up against his hard body, but now his arm had to be there!?
Everything was moving way too fast for me!
.:Sasuke's view:.
I could feel she was uncomfortable. She was so so warm. I could feel certain curves against me... They felt good, I liked it. Pleasure coursed through me as she started to move around to face me. So fucken warm! My arm tightened around her waist. "Stop," I said through gritted teeth. She froze again, figuring out what she was doing, before she moved away and then turned to face me without touching. Her catlike, green-blue eyes looked at me questionably; they weren't harsh anymore, they almost seemed sad, unhappy. I almost frowned, from the loss of heat as well, but instead, I rewrapped my arm around her and pulled her back. She still looked at me with questions crossing through her mind. "Go to sleep now," I mumbled. Aa, thank god I didn't have to share my tent with the princess! Who knows what she would have thought (and do) if I said and did that with her instead of Jade!
Her eye started to twitch from me not answering her; I blew on her neck, making her shiver, and smirked. She pursed her lips, unhappily, and complied after she uncertainty snuggled closer to my heat.

Her breathing had evened out. She was finally sleeping without being cold. Her body was slack and tender, she was comfortable. I pulled her closer and looked down to her again, seeing if any uncomfortableness was shown in her face. She looked so vulnerable, so innocent... I lightly smirked as I softly brushed away some loose, dark strains away from her face, and rested my chin on the top of her head, going to sleep myself.
Mm, Warmth...

.:Jade's view:.
Warmth surrounded me, my body was heating up. It felt nice – different compared to the coldness that waited outside for me. Mm...
I could feel my breath shallow out more, succumbing to sleep...

I was drifting in and out of unconsciousness. The front of me was warm, while my back was cold. I hazily snuggled closer, trying to get warmer. My skin had tingling sensations as my heart sped up. A soft, lulling rhythm repeated in my ears, calming me. An intoxicating smell surrounded me. I breathed in deeply, smelling the addictiveness. Yumm... The warmth I was pressed against was, oddly, soft and hard; I liked it!
Something tightened around my waist, my eyes shot open. The tents wall. A, not my, sleeping bag. Pale white skin... My eyes widened and I snapped properly awake, and noticed the beating rhythm was a heartbeat, the smell was his and I could also hear his soft breathing now. Fuck! I tried sitting up, but his arms were around my waist. I tried again, but they tightened their hold on me, keeping me on him...
I moaned out in annoyance before making my head lay back onto his chest; no point in wasting energy... The noise I made made his breathing change and he moved one hand to his face, rubbing groggy sleep away. "Release your hold on me Sasuke! I know you're not asleep!" I pouted, looking up to his hazy, unfocused eyes in annoyance. Adorable.
He blinked a few times. "What time is it?" He groaned and let his arm loosen.
I moved off him and frowned. "Early!" I empathised.

--XXXXXXXX--

"As you know team, we've been on Storm Country soil for a couple of days now," Kakashi dawdled, bored.
"What? No!" Naruto said angrily.
"Haven't you noticed the sudden change of scenery and the weather changes?" Sakura asked Naruto.
The blond chuckled nervously. "Yeahh but, I just thought it was like that, this way... Heh..."
They kept talking as I slowly surveyed the old surroundings – my old surroundings. Savouring, remembering, aching... I would be home soon.
We were just outside the borderline of my old village, but we were also outside of the forest Tsunade specifically told us not to go to.
To the right, I could tell the difference between my clans soil, Mitsuki, compared to the left where the forest stood, Forest of Darkness.
Forest of Darkness... Rotted, old trees laid dead on the forest floor. Moss overgrew everything. The logs looked like a rotten mass with dark moss chocking them, strangling any last bit of life that could be within them. Jiggered rocks laid scattered amongst the dark, shaded rubble. It was always dark here. Tall, splitting trees ran all the way through the area blocking, keeping, anything and everything out of sight. Hiding... Hidden... Safe...

You can't escape what was not supposed to be hidden...
Hiding from danger that's surrounding...
Are you... scared?
...You should be.

Mitsuki's vegetation was dark as well, but it was rich and full of life. Well, it used to be...
Thick, woody vines hung and wrapped tightly around trees. The coverage was thick and dense, wet with rain. Small streams of crystal clear water ran through the rainforest, which surrounded the Mitsuki clan keeping it hidden, till they connected with a large, rushing waterfall that laid deeper into the forest.
It once was a beautiful place that I thought was magical – enchanting.
But I suppose all kids thought that, thought the same... It all changed for me since thenthough.
"It's beautiful," Sakura said in awe.
I softly smiled.
The Princess snorted. "It's ugly!"
I gave her a dark look.
"Jade?"
I looked at Kakashi. "Yes?"
"Would you like to lead?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Uhh..." I felt Sasuke squeeze my hand comfortingly – maybe this pretending wasn't so bad after all? I nodded and jumped ahead, leading us into the Mitsuki village...
Yes, it was a major village, named after the clan's name.

The rock! I though. This is where my family would go to, so they kept track and new exactly where they were going. I abruptly stopped running when I saw red locks of hair floating in the wind.
Small children giggling echoes repeating...
"Hehe, come on Jade! It's your time to stay at my house tonight!!" Her icy blue eyes looked at me from behind a rock.
"Wait!! Hehe! I'm coming!"
Those ice blue eyes stared at me as she looked from behind the rock. Her reddish brown curls
floating... I slowly walked up to her in a trance and reached out. She smiled up to me as I was about to touch her, before she disappeared. "Jade..." whispered in the wind.
I stared at the spot she once was and shook my head. You're dead! I thought, trying to rid myself of the memories, and took a shaky breath.

I frowned as I looked at the empty, abandoned houses.
Everything was still the same —left in ruins— all there was different, was that the bodies were gone...
People's gardens were wildly over grown, doors and windows hanging off hinges, things broken, and dead leaves messily scattered across the foot paths...
Didn't anyone care about this place; didn't they fix it, at least a bit?
"It's night time and I'm hungry! Can't we at least stop for a bit to rest and eat?" The princess asked annoyed. "And besides, I would still be home by tonight even if we did take a long break!"
Kakashi sighed. "Sakura and Jade get some fire wood while Naruto and Sasuke are hunting. Princess Kumo, stay here with me..." She glared at him for ordering her around.

I think he is enjoying this more than I am...
Oh hahahdihaa-haaa! He's making me hold his hand way before we even see Kumo with the firewood and stuff; even though, as soon as we were out of sight from her he did realise my hand quickly...
I heard Naruto laugh. "What's so funny bluey?!" I asked, frowning.
"You and Teme! Haha! Just look at your face!!!"
I glared at him. "Shut up! I didn't even mean to say those stupid words!"
I saw Sasuke raise an eyebrow. I poked him in the chest. "Yeahh, that's right. This is all your fault; why didn't you just give me the cold shoulder like every other chick who announces something stupid like that?!"
Naruto quickly walked over to us. "Because teme wishes he could get someone like you!" He then snagged me away from Sasuke holding my hand, and put his tanned arm over my shoulders.
Sasuke flatly looked at Naruto from his antics with me. "Dobe, Hinata?"
I smirked about what Sasuke asked. Naruto laughed and waved his hand. "She trusts me!" And then he started leading me away from Sasuke, still with his arm over my shoulders.
"Naruto!" Sakura called.
He turned us around to face her.
She coughed a little. "She still needs to pretend." She pouted after she said that, her witchy green eyes looked at Sasuke's casual figure leaning against a tree.
He let go of me and pushed me over to Sasuke. "Yeah, yeah. I know." He grinned.
I looked back at him unhappily as I walked back over to my fake boyfriend, so we could all head back.

It was cold still, damn.
"Peasant! Give me that!" She pointed to my water.
I looked at her blandly and brought the water to my lips. I swirled it around, savouring the 'taste'.
"But Kumo! You have your own water right next to you!" Naruto said loudly.
She bared her teeth at him. "I want hers!"
"Mm, yum. Delicious water," I said slyly smug, "Sakura, would you like some?" I said staring at the princess.
"Ah... Yeah, sure..."
I felt the water escape my hand and crookedly smirked at the princess. Her mouth flew open, making my smirk widen.
"Hey! She was giving me that!"
I cocked my head from what Sakura said.
"Thanks," Sasuke said; small amusement in his voice.
I glared at him. My water is contaminated now!!
"Aa."
I huffed and faced away from him while crossing my arms.
"Aw Sasuke-kun, she treats you so bad... Just look at her ignoring you! Why, she even glared at you for no reason!!" The princess said sucking up. "You can do so much better," she cooed.
I brought my hand up to my face, micking the words I said, "Oh yes Sasuke, you can do soo much better! Pity there isn't anyone around!"
She huffed, or snorted, about what I said about her. I wasn't too sure on the noise she made.
Naruto laughed. "Nice man, nice!"
I smiled. "Thanks women!"
He pouted after I said that. I stuck my tongue out and wrapped my arms around my legs, to keep myself warm, and watched as the fire crackled and spat red and yellow flames.
"Kakashi, reading at night time with bad lighting is bad for your eyes," Sakura said and crossed her arms in disapproval.
He quietened her. "I'm at a good bit!" He smiled gleefully.
Probably everyone rolled their eyes at that comment.
"You're cold." Sasuke stated softly with a frown.
I ignored him and then his arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me onto his lap. I squeaked when my skin hit his skin and lowly laughed. "You're the one who's cold," I said softly with a small smile. We were both talking lowly, so no one could hear us.
He shrugged then brought his head to my ear, making my stomach clench, his lips slightly brushed against it as he whispered, "we were both cold."
I swear he could feel me shiver from his voice and feel my heart rapidly beat because he smirked...

--XXXXXXXXXX--

I hated bowing to people; it makes me feel so unequal, inferior.
"Daddy!" Kumo rushed over to him.
"Thank you for bringing my special little angel back to us!" The King said; smugness radiated off him.
"It was our pleasure," Kakashi said and all four of us coughed. He shot us a dirty look. All five of us stood from our kneeling position when they said.
"For your kindness, we allow you to rest in our home." The Queen said with a kind smile. For some reason it seemed fake.
Kakashi Smiled. "Thank you."
We all quickly bowed our respect and went to our directed rooms for the night.

"Shit Sasuke! How come you get all the good stuff?" Naruto shouted as he ran over to the fridge.
"Hn."
"It's because wittle miss pwincess is in wuv with coo, aww!" I said mockingly.
"Thank kama it's all over!" Sakura said with a sigh. "This was the longest, most boring and worst mission yet. Kumo is a pain in the head!" She flopped onto Sasuke's overly big bed, rubbing the bridge of her nose.
He gave her an annoyed look.
"Hey Naruto, is there any chocolate in there as well?"
He looked up with an arms full of ramen noodles, probably snavelling them for his own room. "Yeah, hang on a sec Sakura."
I flopped onto my stomach on his bed. "Can you also grab me some?"
He nodded his head and started wobbling over with the noodles and chocolates.
Sasuke came over to the bed as well, and leaned against the headboard.
"SHIT!"
"Dobe." Sasuke smirked.
I looked at him and saw him sitting on the ground, rubbing his head, with the food sprawled out around him.
Sakura and I crawled over to the side on the bed and picked up a chocolate bar each. "Thanks Naruto!" We both said.
He started to pick the noodles back up and then he rushed over to a kettle. "No more faking relationships now, aye Jade?" He cheekily grinned. "I don't see how you and Sasuke-teme faked being together for that long," I swear I heard a gasp after he said that, but shrugged it off, "he's such a cold, arrogant bastard!"
Sasuke scolded before muttering something darkly under his breath.
I grinned.
And all four of us joked and mucked around for a few more hours into the night before we retreated back to our smaller, less classy rooms.

--XXXXXXXX--

"Thank you for your hospitality, but I believe it's time for our leave," Kakashi said, slightly bowing.
The King smiled. "It was our pleasure to have you here, especially when you went out of your way for our precious daughter."
"Ah," the Queen interrupted, "but wouldn't you prefer to stay on such an exciting event?"
"What event would that be your Majesty?" Sakura asked curious.
"Why! Our daughter getting married!" The King boasted in pride.
"Congratulations!" Naruto forcibly smiled.
Ha, poor sod who has to marry her!
Sakura looked at Kumo with joy from such an occasion – even though she still didn't like her. "Who's the lucky guy?"
I smirked from her hidden meaning.
"Why," the King cut in, over the top of his daughter, "your team member Uchiha Sasuke, of course!"
...

...

"WHAT?!"

Authors Note:
(Ha! And gotta feel sorry for Sasuke!! I've seen this little 'marriage' thing happen with other fic's, and I thought I would do it to the guy, not the girl main character!! -evilly smiles- And anyway, it should put things more into motion :D.)

~Finally, the chapter is out. 15 friggen pages long!! (Apart form maybe the next one, I will probably never do another chapter this long!)
If anyone says I took my sweet time getting this out I shall scoff at them because, damn, that is loongg!
And also, I'll scoff because I have an excuse!!
Like, well, my mum and dad had broke up for a day or so (it was at night time) and that left me in an emotional mess (and a not sleeping/irregular sleeping mess too) and then they did it again (as you can see they're on the rocks right now -sniffs-); also, it was Christmas, which caused me to help mum around the house here and there; and lastly, my brother and his girlfriend were down for Chrissy and New Years...
Yess, been busy and I've got family problems... :(
I am terribly sorry, I hope you do understand though, so no one gets annoyed about me not updating very early/quickly. But I have been trying to the best of my ability while being troubled and interrupted :). (No hard feelings?)

P.s. I've gotten a message about not being able to review? Dw, that has only happened 'cause you already commented that chapter before (because I had deleted and combined about 3 chapters, remember?). But anywho, no worries, you'll be able to review on the next chapter, or you could just do an anonymous review on this one if you'd like!! :D

Cherry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone!! ^-^
xx