Karin woke up the next morning with a start. She rolled over to find the bed empty and she sighed. Good. She was alone, and that meant that Suigetsu hadn't come back like she thought he had. And since he hadn't come back, that meant that she had kept her story to herself and hadn't moaned and complained and embarrassed herself like her dream suggested.

Karin sighed again. She wanted to stay in bed all day and not have to do anything. She was delightfully warm, but knew that the cold weather was approaching and had things to do before it hit. She pulled herself out of bed and wrapped her robe around herself tighter, then froze. She could hear sounds coming from the kitchen, cooking sounds. Her hand flew to her mouth and she almost started crying.

He wasn't a dream. He was here. And he was in her kitchen!

When she finally worked up the courage to move outside and see if he really was in the guardhouse, Karin slowly sidled out of the doorway and stopped, gazing across the lounge room. Suigetsu's sword was leaning against the opposite wall. And it was clean, and shiny. From what she remembered, the only time Suigetsu's sword was that clean was directly after he used it on somebody. She narrowed her eyes and moved quietly into the kitchen. He was standing with his back to the doorway and she could hear the sound of sizzling coming from in front of him. She shuffled forward and ducked as a fork came flying over his shoulder and impaled itself above her head. She gasped and glared at him as he turned around.

"That was unnecessary!"

He shrugged, smirking. He crossed his arms and studied her, smirk disappearing and a barely hidden concerned look played in his eyes.

"Are you ok?"

She looked away from him.

"I can't believe I told you that."

He crossed the room and held her arms gently.

"Karin, look at me."

She raised her head unwillingly, staring into his eyes.

"I'm glad you told me. I plan to stay here for a while, with you."

She started shaking her head, pushing him away.

"Why are you saying this now? When you left, you said I wouldn't last three days."

He sighed; he'd forgotten about that. He leaned down to look deep into her eyes.

"You have to believe me, Karin, I didn't mean that. I needed to get out. I showed you what I am," he morphed to show her, still staring deep into her eyes, "and I didn't trust you. Now I know I can. The seal I used on you would inform me whenever you let my secret out."

She dropped her head, unwanted tears in her eyes.

"I never told anyone." She said softly.

He nodded.

"I know."

They remained quiet until Karin spoke again, her voice even softer than before.

"You said you liked me less than Sasuke."

His breath caught. He was now confronted with the thing he wanted her to forget the most. He sighed; this wasn't going to be easy.

"Karin... look. I needed to get out. And I couldn't do that without a good reason. You hurt me that night and I used you as an excuse to leave."

"Then why would you come back?"

He paused. He didn't have a good enough answer for her. What he had would not satisfy the sad curiosity that she was showing. When he didn't reply, she breathed in a shaky breath.

"Well. The guardhouse is yours now. I know I'm not wanted or needed."

She stepped back. He put his hands out to stop her but she evaded him.

"Enjoy your life. Think of me, someday, and remember."

She stood watching him and he saw the tears falling and was powerless to stop them. She spun around and was gone.