Here's the next chapter! Oooohhh a new plot twister! And some Sasuke goodness. Well, depends on what you count as goodness.

I've got the rough outline to where this story's gonna go...and all I've got to say is: HOLD ON TO YOUR BOOTSTRAPS, CUZ WE'VE GOT A LOOOOONNNG WAY TO GO!

Like seriously, no joke, there's a lot more coming. I was thinking of making a sequel to continue it, but I decided not to. For some, the longness a good thing...and for the rest of you...I dont really care. You're being warned: THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG-ASS STORY.

Hope you guys like it, and PLEASE REVIEW!

Chapter 40

Two days after my meeting with Tsunade, Sasuke was called into the hospital for some tests. We were out training when a messenger found us, and so we both walked to the hospital together. Sasuke hadn't asked me to come – he hadn't said more than two words to me since the time at the training field two days ago. The day was cool and dark – it was going to rain anytime now – and people were hurrying to get their errands done before the storm came.

My hair was pulled back into a bun, and since we hadn't trained for too long – not long enough for the sweat to dry on my hair and shape it so it was weirdly and awkwardly bumpy when I let it down – I pulled my hair-tie out of my hair, shaking my head in order to let it settle around my shoulders and waist. It really was getting long…I might have to cut it soon.

I fingered the hair around my elbow, and frowned in thought. Hm…maybe I should cut it short this time. I had short hair back in middle school…it didn't look too bad. Sasuke saw me staring at my hair, and frowned in silent question. I smiled, and reached over to tug a strand of his hair.

"I was just thinking about cutting my hair. It's getting so long…"

Sasuke leaned away from my fingers, scowling. He was still sour from my little game the other day. I rolled my eyes, ignoring his childish pouting. I shook my head, and asked.

"Please tell me that you're not still angry about the other day. It was a joke. Just a bit of fun…and besides, you're the one who wanted to act like you were still my teacher."

Sasuke glared. "I'm not angry."

"Oh, okay. So you're just pouting and glaring at me because…I'm ridiculously witty and intelligent? Makes sense, I guess."

Sasuke glared at me, his eyes pieces of icy onyx, and with a snarl he marched past me, hands submerged deep in his pockets. The smile faded from my face as I watched him go, my brow furrowing automatically. I think that I was wrong about this one. Something was wrong with Sasuke…and it wasn't about our little joke on the training field. It was something deeper.

The more impulsive part of me wanted to run after Sasuke, but the more sensible part of my brain argued that me badgering him would only make him less inclined to open up. I knew from experience that Sasuke was bad at expressing his emotions. It made him feel vulnerable, and I knew that I would have to wait until Sasuke was more composed to approach him.

And so, I stood in the center of the street, watching Sasuke disappear around a corner. I sighed, and was about to turn to head into the nearest book shop when a figure appeared at my side. I tensed automatically, and relaxed when I recognized it to be Kakashi.

Kakashi had become…an ally of sorts over the past two weeks or so. He was very similar to Sasuke in the sense that he was extremely guarded, and that was part of what I liked about him. As much as I enjoyed Naruto and everyone else's friendliness – excluding Neji, Kiba and Tenten, of course – it was nice to meet someone who was older and more mature. He also was an excellent sparring partner, only a few levels below Sasuke and almost as fast.

For the first few weeks, he had been cold and stiff. But after something happened between him and Sasuke…Kakashi had been making much more of an effort to get to know me. Kind of weird, seeing as he'd just randomly poof out of nowhere and start a conversation.

Kakashi raised a hand, and I sighed. "Hey, Kakashi. What's up? Not enough porn in the bookstore to keep your interest?"

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the porn. Or, to be more specific, the pornographic series known as Icha-Icha. How could that possibly slip my mind? Kakashi was an Icha-Icha addict. To say anything less would be an understatement. I mean, seriously, he spent his free time doing two things; training, and reading Icha-Icha. That was it.

I had never gotten the chance to read Icha-Icha, but if it was anything like Naruto described it to be…I think I was better off avoiding it like the plague. Naruto had lived with the author for two years…he had been forced to read the rough drafts of the so-called "works of art". No wonder Naruto was such a little pervert…

Kakashi chuckled. "Unfortunately, no. I left my books at home today, and the book shop selection just doesn't compare."

"Porn is porn, Kakashi."

"I wouldn't expect a child like yourself to understand." Kakashi smirked, and I laughed.

"Oh really? I bet that I could write porn just as vividly as the next hormone-addled fifteen-year-old boy. Even more so, in fact, because I went through school with nearly two hundred of them." I shuddered at the memory, and Kakashi shook his head.

"I think I'll stop you there, Hikari. I'm actually here on official business. You know that Tsunade wishes to test Sasuke's seal?"

"Yeah?" I frowned at the recollection of Sasuke's sour scowl, and grimaced at the thought of that mood coming into contact with Tsunade. He'd better shape up, otherwise Tsunade would pummel him.

"Well, Tsunade is going to release his chakra, but she sees some complications in activating it. You see, the seal is fueled by Sasuke's need for vengeance, and now that Itachi is dead…"

"You think that he doesn't have any anger? You're wrong." I spoke through my teeth, not liking how his tone seemed so assuming and light. This wasn't fucking cotton candy and little unicorns we were talking about. It was Sasuke's seal. A dark and evil thing that Orochimaru had placed on Sasuke against his will.

Kakashi looked at me evenly, and I stared back up at him, scowling. "I understand that, Hikari. Sasuke has informed me of what the Council did, and I understand that his hatred might be fueled towards them. But Sasuke told me that he was…trying to put it behind him. Because someone very important to Sasuke told him that it was time to let his family's tragedy behind him. I don't want him to re-engage that hatred, not when he's trying so hard to push away the hatred."

I shifted slightly, fighting to keep the blush off my face. Sasuke had told Kakashi that I was important to him? He hadn't said my name, but…wow. That was so…unlike Sasuke. Hik

But it didn't stop me from wanting to run up to Sasuke and throw my arms around him.

I focused on Kakashi once more, putting a hand on my hip. "So you need something else to get Sasuke angry enough to go into the second stage of the seal."

"Yes. We considered using chakra, but that wouldn't be as effective. We need stimulus…something to put him into that state of rage. We found out in a few tests that he couldn't pull on it as easily as before, and so Tsunade's moving on to a different tactic."

I raised an eyebrow. "Get to the point Kakashi. What do you need from me?"

"If you're willing…we'd like to run a test with you and Sasuke. I can't tell you what it is, but I need to have your permission. The most I can tell you is that it'll help Tsunade examine the state, which can aid her in a way of possibly removing the seal all together."

I blinked. "Removing it?"

"Yes."

I thought for a moment, and then nodded. "Why not?"

Kakashi smiled. "Thank you."

I felt something behind me, but with my chakra suppressors on, I couldn't move fast enough. Something pinched the back of my neck, and I fell forward into blackness.

Well, damn. That wasn't quite what I was expecting.

Sasuke stood in the center of the enclosed facility, large enough for training and sturdy enough to withstand incredibly strong attacks. It was also a place to test new jutsus and abilities while being safely supervised, with medical on hand in case anything went wrong. The ground was padded slightly, with metal disks making up the walls and curving upward to make a sort of dome shaped ceiling.

The irritation from before flared at the thought of Hikari's hurt face, and he sighed. It wasn't her fault…he was just…trying so hard. He had seen the Council Members out on the street today, and had to force himself to run away to the training fields to calm down, because his hands were shaking and his breathing had accelerated. He had found Hikari there, and she and he had sparred for a few minutes before Tsunade called for him. Sasuke hadn't been able to fully vent his fury, and he had acted out against Hikari. If only he had been brave enough to tell her. She would have been able to calm him down, with her understanding and her affection. But Sasuke had been closing himself off for so long that it was hard to open up, even to Hikari.

His chest was bare, and he was breathing deeply, glancing over at Tsunade, who was attaching thick manacles to his wrists and ankles. He didn't bother asking what this test was; he doubted she would tell him. The teen noticed that the metal chains weren't suppressing his chakra, and he relished the feeling of his full level of chakra washing through him as Tsunade placed the activating seal against the seal on his wrist.

Tsunade then stood several yards to Sasuke's right, a clipboard in her hands and her eyes glancing at the door. "Okay. This test is an attempt to release the second stage. I'll be observing you, so keep it up as long as possible if you do manage to reach it."

Sasuke nodded, and tensed as the large double doors opened. His eyes widened as Hikari stumbled through, a large blindfold ripped off her head by a ninja with a dark mask over his face, his eyes shining through holes in the fabric. Hikari glanced around, and looked around with interest.

"Wow…this is a pretty cool room."

Sasuke saw the doors close with an ominous click behind her, and three ninja suddenly surrounded her. Sasuke strained against the chains, glaring at Tsunade.

"Why is she here? She has nothing to do with this!"

Tsunade didn't answer, her face impenetrable as she stared at him. Sasuke tore his eyes away from the woman, his eyes wide as he stared at Hikari. She frowned as she looked around at her attackers, who were slowly closing in.

"Is this supposed to intimidate me or something?"

Hikari sent her fist flying into the first jounin's face, and he stumbled back, yanked forward by Hikari's hands and gasping as his crotch came into jarring contact with Hikari's knee. The man dropped, groaning as his comrades leapt forward. Hikari ducked, rolling under their feet and popping up once more.

"That all you got? I don't even have chakra fellas, so don't expect me to play fair."

Sasuke let out a reluctant chuckle at the men's expressions, and felt his arms tense once more as Hikari flipped around in an attempt to slam her foot into one of the ninja's head. But he used chakra this time, sending his fist into her gut and sending her flying. Her body slammed against the metal disks, which shifted in order to absorb the impact. Hikari quickly rose, growling.

"That's two times that I've gotten thrown into a wall; what is it with you ninja and walls? Got a fetish or something equally disturbing that I don't know about?"

Tsunade grinned as Hikari rolled out of the way of a fire jutsu, and Sasuke failed to see what was so funny. Hikari was without chakra; sooner or later she would run out of energy. What the hell was Tsunade playing at, having two elite jounin attack her when she was defenseless? Was it to get Sasuke angry enough to snap?

Whether that was what Tsunade was aiming for or not, it was working.

Hikari's head snapped back as one of the ninja sent his elbow into her face, and he saw blood trickle out of her mouth as she was sent sliding across the floor. The girl snapped back up, angry now. The ninja were rushing at her, but she dodged the first few blows, gripping one of the ninja's arms and jerking sharply, trying to break his wrist. But the man must have been wearing guards against that, because he simply grabbed her by the throat and tossed her into the wall again.

Hikari got up, but before she could do anything the other ninja was there, slamming into her face with his fist, and grabbing her by her hair.

No.

Sasuke's blood was boiling as their fists collided with her again and again, and he jerked against the chains. How dare they, how dare they! They weren't allowed to touch her; they weren't allowed to throw her around like trash. She was his, and his alone. Just as he was hers.

She was still fighting, just as he had taught her to. Hikari never was one to give up, even if she was overwhelmed. She bit and clawed, remaining silent and not showing any pain. Her nails clawed bloody grooves into the arm of the man that was holding her, and she managed to land a solid kick into the face of the other, breaking his nose. But there was no chakra to aid her in her escape, and they were overpowering her.

Sasuke felt panic trickling into his system as they pushed her against the wall, her hair tangled and bloody against her face, her blue-gray eyes blazing with defiance even though blood was running from her nose and mouth. Sasuke felt that familiar rage welling up, and chakra began flaring up in his skin, urging on his anger and fanning it.

Hikari.

The ninja said something to her, and she laughed, loudly and mockingly. Sasuke couldn't hear what the ninja said, but he heard what she said as clearly as if she had been standing right beside him.

"Bite me." And with a smirk, she spat a large glob of blood into the face of the ninja pinning her to the wall. The ninja snarled, and suddenly Hikari's eyes widened as something sharp suddenly buried itself into her gut. She looked down to see a kunai embedded there, and the ninja yanked it away harshly. It wasn't near any vitals, but the sight of Hikari falling to her knees and peeling her bloodied fingers away from the wound made Sasuke snap.

Chakra flared through him, and suddenly he felt that familiar tugging of his skin as it morphed into the other winged form that lay within his seal. He felt chakra pouring into his system, and with a snarl he yanked through the manacles easily, using his wings to propel himself towards the ninja. Tsunade yelled something at him, but he couldn't hear anything but the roaring of blood in his ears.

He didn't have his sword, and that was lucky for the two ninja before him. If he had his sword, it would already be severing their heads from their shoulders.

Sasuke appeared behind the ninja, and knocked both of them unconscious, kicking them both to opposite sides of the arena. Hikari blinked slowly, and looked up at him, her eyes widening slightly as Sasuke gently touched her face.

"Sasuke?"

Why did she look so damn calm? His insides were churning as he let his arms cradle her face tenderly, eyes scanning her body, locking on her stomach, which was bleeding profusely. His teeth bared, he moved to deal with the bastards who had done this, but a pair of slender hands grabbing his arm stopped him.

"No, Sasuke…it's okay. I get it now…they wanted you to react; they wanted you to go into the second stage. It was all just a part of the test…" She smiled, and then suddenly coughed roughly, clutching her stomach painfully. Sasuke opened his mouth to say something angrily, but Hikari interrupted him with a smile. "I'm fine, it just hurts a bit. I'll be okay after a healer gets to me."

Sasuke couldn't bring himself to answer, to say anything. His chest was tight and uncomfortable as he pulled her close, burying his face in her neck. His breathing was erratic as his thick wings automatically curled around the two of them, shielding them from the outside world.

Her body was warm against his own, and Sasuke held her tighter as he breathed in the scent of her skin. She was so brave, so strong…so breakable. Here, within his embrace, she was safe. Here, no one could ever touch her. Here…they were together, with no pretenses or walls to separate them.

When Hikari was in his arms, smiling at him, kissing him or just leaning her head against his shoulder…Sasuke was home.

He never wanted to let her go.

A dark figure watched from the small observation room above the training room, his face partially shielded by his dark cloak. Two guards were unconscious at his feet, in a mild genjutsu that would leave them with no memory of his presence.

The ninja watched Sasuke cradle the pest of a girl close to him, and the man's mouth twitched into a smile as he saw Sasuke's expression of tenderness. A plan began formulating in the man's mind, and with a chuckle he turned to leave the room.

He wouldn't take revenge now. He'd wait until the other Akatsuki plan came into being, and then he would make his move. It would be all the more impressive now that another element was in the picture. It would make it that much more satisfying, because it would break Sasuke utterly and completely.

"Enjoy it now, Sasuke. Because soon, it'll all come crashing down."

The hood of the cloak shifted slightly, revealing for a split second one Sharingan eye shining through a patterned mask. And then, the man was gone, and nothing remained except for the guards, who were just beginning to stir.