As the sun went further down for the day, a certain chill graced my body as me and Sasuke walked back to the compound. I couldn't help the slight shiver that racked my body; I instantly began to pick up a little more speed in my stride while stuffing my hands into my pockets. We were only a few blocks away from Sakura's place so I knew it would still take a while to make it back home.

I instantly frowned at that thought. I glanced over to my right to see if the Uchiha was faring with the same problem like I was. He hadn't said a word since the scene between him and Sakura, but I wasn't too surprised at that. Sasuke was always an individual of few words, and I could never think of anything to say to him, so it made conversation even more void. Not that I minded though, for some reason it wasn't an uncomfortable silence between us. Those moments had passed after we got use to each other presence, and understood there was nothing we could do about our unusual situation. We learned to cope.

Sasuke was staring up into the sky as we walked along, possibly glancing at the stars while they slowly began to appear over the darkening sky. An almost complete peaceful look had washed over his face as the stars began to reflect back into his obsidian eyes. It seemed as if little burst of different suns began to do a sort of ritual dance they only knew the beat to, and then Sasuke looked over at me.

I could clearly see the lights then, and for a split second it took my breath away. I shivered again, but not from the cold this time.

"What are you staring at?" Sasuke asked with a slight look of irritation. He probably thought I was an idiot more than a genius on numerous occasions. And the way I've been acting, I couldn't say I would have the heart to correct the assumption.

I turn my eyes back to the road before shaking my head and muttering, "Nothing."

I could see out the corner of my eyes Sasuke staring at me, with a look I couldn't decipher, for a little while longer before he too turn back forward. A part of me itched to say something else, maybe something wittier, but I didn't have the nerve to breach the silence just yet.

That was a problem that was beginning to arise more often. Often times I would catch myself before trying to have a conversation with the Uchiha. I couldn't understand why. It wasn't like me and him were friends or even associates for that matter. He was a pain for me to deal with, and yet it scratched at me not to know more about him. I didn't necessarily want to become friends, but if we ended up being that I wouldn't necessarily mind, but I did want to know more about him. He was always a mystery to the village, even more so to the rookie 9, but somehow Sakura and Naruto understood him.

He let them in and now I want that chance, I want to understand. I think he needs that more than anything. He needs someone new and refreshing within his small circle. And somewhere along the line I want him to need me. But that would only happen if I open myself up, and the only way to start that is by talking. But how do I go about that without seeming desperate or crazy? If I pushed this too hard from right away he would definitely run.

Else, I needed to at least say I accomplished something from this situation.

Before long we had reached the compound. As we made our way through my door into the living room, I could see Sasuke walking towards the hallway, probably going straight to his room as usual. I grit my teeth at the thought of it. This needed to change, and for more than the reason of this being my mission. I had to make some type of move.

"Hey! Wait up", I say while throwing my vest off to the side onto the couch.

Sasuke turns and stares at me while lifting up his eyebrow in a silent way of asking 'what is it'.

"Um, game of shougi perhaps? I haven't had the opportunity to play against anyone in a while, and you seem okay enough."

He stands in the opening of the hallway for a moment, contemplating my proposal with hawk like eyes before smirking at me, "Sure, but don't expect me to bend over and let you win." I shiver at the thought, before shaking the thoughts out of my head.

"I wouldn't dream of it."

"Good."

I walk over in front of the couch, walking towards the fireplace and reach inside my pocket searching for my matches. I pluck one out and flick it before throwing it onto the piles of wood. The small room becomes instantly engulfed with the shadows of the flames dancing across the wall. The heat that washes over me helps press down on the jitters that begin to crawl over the layers in my stomach. I turn around and stare upon Sasuke sitting on the floor with the shougi board in front of him and a bottle of sake to the right; I could only guess how he got the bottle in such a short amount of time. He stares at me with a slight challenge in his eyes. The shadows especially play on his pale skin in a silent beat I don't quite catch. I shiver again.

I sit down on the other side of the board and instantly stretch my legs out to the side, placing myself on my side and propping my head into my hand. I glance up into Sasuke's waiting eyes then reach out and grab the sake before whispering,

"Let's begin."