Hey guys, I'm back. I didn't think this chapter would take so long, but I've diverged from the original plot a bit and... imagination is hard. : P

Anyhow, tell me what you think. And on that topic. Wow. 37 reviews for part 1! Guys, thanks so much! Silima, wow, you've given me so much feedback and it really does mean so much to me! I'm glad you like it! ^ ^

"It looks like Sasuke's long gone."

When Kirika's head lolled backwards Kabuto saw she was frowning. Her eyes were dull, her mouth parted slightly. She clicked her tongue. "Such a shame... Now my fun's ruined." A drop of blood fell from the corpse above her onto her cheek. The body's back was held up against the wall through his chest by her sword. Kirika's fingers twitched around the hilt. She wiped the blood from her cheek and licked it off her finger as it swiped past her mouth. She stepped away and lowered her hand. The body slid off her sword.

Kabuto re-adjusted her glasses. "The jailer appears to be gone too."

"I can see that."

"I can't seem to find any other guards..." Kabuto glanced about. The bodies of the test subjects were strewn about the floor. They'd been freed, but had no way of escaping the island base. "Looking over the records of the inmates, we seem to have them all."

Kirika sighed. "Oh, what a waste... I hate to throw away healthy bodies when they've served so well as subjects... A shame we have no one to guard them." Kirika whipped her blade through the air. The blood splattered around her.

"We'll find more." Kabuto assured her.

"Indeed we will. Come."

A guard handed Kirika a cup of tea. She accepted with a nod and blew on the cup before sipping.

They were all assembled here, bandaging their injuries or collecting the data of what was damaged, who was dead and where everything and everyone was. Her followers. Kabuto stood at her side. Kirika's large chair was positioned at the centre wall of the room. She sat with erect posture, fingering her cup delicately with one hand, head perched on the fist of the other-elbow on the arm rest-and watched through piercing, authoritative eyes the quiet buzz of the Oto ninja and guards of the Northern Hideout. Sitting there, Kabuto mused, Kirika looked a queen. As she should. It brought a smile to his lips.

The hum in the room eventually died down. The guards and ninja organized themselves into kneeling rows in front of her. Guards in front; ninja in back.

Kabuto accepted the reports from a guard. He took his place and spoke for the lot. "Lady Kirika, without you we would all be dead. We all owe you our lived."

The group bowed.

Kirika smiled. Kabuto would describe the look in her eyes as that of a snake with fresh prey in its grasp; satisfaction. But not true amusement and not true joy, as it might have been weeks before. These were things Kabuto noted. Kirika still smiled and laughed. When she was toying with others, experimenting, asserting her claim of control over the Sound Village—which she never lost.

To the untrained eye Kirika was the same, if not a bit more sadistic since she'd come into power but with his sharp observations Kabuto could say without question that Kirika had been joyless since Orochimaru's death. It was written in her mannerisms, in the twitches of her fingers; which shook ever so slightly and in the flickers of her eyes; which were laced with sleepless red. In the furtive somberness that was now always underlying her gaze.

Kirika had not cried but Kabuto reckoned her determination to stabilise and rule the network of Orogature was her own way of grieving.

Kirika sighed. "Oh, what a waste... I hate to throw away healthy bodies when they've served so well as subjects... A shame we have no one to guard them." Kirika whipped her blade through the air; the blood splattered around her.

"We'll find more." Kabuto assured her.

Kirika stepped carefully over the bodies, never looking down, eyes never moving. "Indeed we will. Come."

"So, shall I gat to work locating Sasuke?"

"No."

Kabuto eyes begged question.

She eyed him back. "Look around. What do you see?"

She did not need to explain further. Kabuto was quick. "Chaos."

Kirika nodded. "It doesn't matter who freed these prisoners. When word of father reached the other bases the prisoners will become rowdy. Otogakure is mine by right. As Lord Orochimaru's heir, I must restore order. And I must assert myself as leader now, or my claim will be lost." Kirika's eyes were hard. "I'll be damned if I let everything father built crumble to pieces."

Kirika had been right about the uprisings. They'd quilled more than a dozen in other bases one by one and stamped out the seeds for rebellion in over a dozen more. The Northern Hideout was no exception. But even the monsters of the curse seals had been little threat to Kirika. Now, her claim to the Sound Village was all but assured. She might remain here for a while, the Northern Hideout housed the most unstable experiments. Kirika had already made it apparent to them that she was a force to be reckoned with when she stamped out their rebellion. But being so unstable, the northern hideout was a lynchpin in her authority. She knew it. It was a symbol. If her followers knew she could control such a madhouse, which she could, they would fall neatly and permanently into place.

This was why she'd secured the Northern Hideout last.

According to her spies, Sasuke was assembling a team. In the month past since he killed Orochimaru he'd managed to take Karin and Suigetsu Hozuki. Kirika had fumed when she heard. Suigetsu was one of her favourite lab rats. Kirika thought it a taunt. Insult to injury. But she chose to keep her distance.

It puzzled Kabuto, he'd asked her once but she gave him no real answer. When she'd blown up the base Orochimaru died in he was certain she wanted nothing more than to break Sasuke's neck.

In truth, just thinking about seeing Sasuke made Kirika's stomach both turn repulsion and boil in anger. She didn't know what she wanted to do if they did come face to face. Anger towards him came in bursts but so did sadness and then there was just emptiness. If this was grief, it was unpredictable and illogical and cringe worthy. Kirika wished her mother was with her. Hideko would know what to tell her. She would know how to comfort her. Kabuto was not so gifted in those arts. But Kirika thought for that matter she might as well wish Orochimaru was with her, too.

These were things she tried to keep from thinking of. They haunted her mind at night. She hadn't been sleeping well as of late. But there was no colour in her face to lose and in her serpentine eyes the sleepless veins of red made them look more menacing than sullen. Orochimaru would tell her that she ought to think more about securing Otogakure than her grief. So she did. He had no patience for mourners. He would tell her what he'd told her long ago; what she had been telling herself for the past four years.

'Your tears will do nothing.'

Kirika sipped her tea and looked over her men. Twenty-three in total. The prisoners had killed off more than half.

"You."

An Oto ninja stood.

"Send word to the other hideouts. I want ten transferred from the Southeastern, five from the West Hideout in the Land of Grass, seven from the East Hideout by the sea and three from the northernmost in the Land of Fire. They can spare the men. Tell them to be here within a fortnight."

"Yes ma'am."

She waved a hand over the leftmost ninja "You four."

"My lady!"

"Begin preparations for reconstruction on the uppermost level of cells."

"Yes, Lady Kirika."

"Everyone but you three."

The remaining fifteen ninja stood. "Collect all the prisoners and move them to the cells on the lower levels." The lower levels were unused, and therefore functional.

"The rest of you survey the laboratories. All of them. An all levels. Initiate full scale decontamination protocol. Every vile, every crack. Scrub the entirety of them. Test every substance and every chemical for purity. I cannot understate the importance of this. Kabuto."

"Yes My Lady?"

"Oversee that everything in the labs is done properly."

"Of course."

Kirika stood. Only she and Kabuto remained in the room. "I'm going to see Juugo."

Red was well defined and difficult to hide on white skin. Kirika hoped it was too dim for him to see her blushing. She averted her eyes to the floor.

The boy smiled kindly at her. If he took notice to her flushed face he did not acknowledge it. "Lady Kirika, what brings you here?"

Kirika remembered herself and faced Kimimaro head on. Two years she'd know him and he never failed to make her stomach flutter. "Ah... Kabuto says someone interesting is here. The curse mark boy."

Kimimaro cocked his head. "Juugo? Yes, he's been here for a while."

"I want to see him."

Kimimaro took her to the lower levels of the cell blocks. The door was thick cast iron, reinforced with chain locks and deadbolts. "Stay behind me, alright?" Kimimaro warned. he knocked lightly on the door. "He's bashful."

Kirika stood on tip-toes to see.

"W-what?" Juugo's expression was troubled.

"We're going to go outside." Kirika said.

Kimimaro cocked his head. "Why?"

"I want to."

"Eh... are you sure that's alright." Juugo's eyes darted to Kimimaro nervously.

"Father said it was okay." Kirika laced her fingers. It had been an awkward encounter. She'd never played outside with friends before and she was under the ever edgy impression that should she make a friend again, Orochimaru might kill them. Friends were for the weak. But Kimimaro was a very important asset. And Juugo was a very important test subject. So perhaps they were safe.

In truth, Kirika almost wanted Juugo and Kimimaro would be done away with. The camaraderie she had attained with them frightened her. The sweet, nervous feelings Kimomaro evoked were terrifying. She half-hoped asking to play would provoke Orochimaru's wrath. It would be easier if Juugo and Kimimaro died sooner than later. That they would be allowed to play, and survive it would only reinforce Kirika's fears... it would haunt her for years.

Kimimaro prodded gently. "Do you want to train?"

"Perhaps. Perhaps we'll play. Vitamin D is important, and you boys only have until you're twenty-one to build up your bone structure."

"But why?"

Kirika put a finger to her chin. "I just want to."

Juugo sat under the shade of a boulder and watch Kimimaro spar with Kirika. The red wasteland stretched endless in all directions. There as nothing but rock. Flat, littered with boulders and plaguing cliffs. The red land was like the surface of a salt crystal. On the tallest cliff; a thin jagged point like a dagger was the Northern Hideout. It was nestled into the cliff and hidden well.

Kirika had looked up at it with wonder and pointed out the strategic advantages it held over the terrain. Juugo reckoned this area had no strategic advantages itself but he held his tongue. If he asked, Kirika was sure to point out every last reason, no matter how minor, as to why the Northern Hideout was where is was and why it was indeed very important. Perhaps later. It was nice to hear her ramble. When she was interested, she spoke with a child's excited enthusiasm that Oto was otherwise devoid of. Juugo rested his chin on his knees.

Kirika twisted and leapt back on her hands to avoid Kimimaro's spine. She was an agile thing. She regained her footing and her Katana clashed with his bone-whip.

They both broke back panting.

"Hey." Juugo called. "This isn't really playing." He looked around nervously. "Why did we bother coming outside when you can train in the base?"

"Because I wanted to." Kirika cocked her head as if it was the most obvious answer. "What else are we supposed to do?"

"Hm..." Juugo lowered his head.

"I think he's right." Kimimaro smiled solemnly. "Do you know any games?"

"I heard nine-year-olds are supposed to play outside. This is fun, so this is playing."

"We're eleven." Juugo said.

"I don't think that's right." Kimimaro said thoughtfully. "Not everything that's fun is playing." He sat down next to Juugo, Kirika sat at Kimimaro's other side.

"But this is nice." Kirika scooted back into the shade. She looked at her arms, the sun was harsh, she might burn. The boys next to her were quite pale as well. "We don't go outside very often."

Juugo looked up, he shaded his eyes with his arm. She was right, he hadn't seen the sky in some time.

Juugo stayed seated under the boulder until the sun set. Kimimaro and Kirika sat for most of the time but they broke their rest every so often for short bouts. They were unsuited to childhood games. Kimimaro's isolation and repression; Juugo's insanity and Kirika's upbringing left all three children well suited to combat and the harsh life of the Sound but at a loss as to what to do when given the opportunity to play. Juugo and Kimimaro didn't know what to do. Kirika had some vague idea but her knowledge of whimsy was limited to her sadistic games and cruelly she used when dealing with enemies. And everyone who wasn't them was an enemy, so Orochimaru taught her.

Regardless, it was nice to see the sky.

Kirika twisted the handle of the door, with some effort it creaked open.

"A WOMAN! BINGO! I'LL KILL YOU!"

Kirika frowned, she raised her arm and shakes shot out to ensnare Juugo.

He struggled against the snakes. The black markings of the first stage curse mark blanketed his body did not yet reach his hands or feet. Kirika glared and tightened the snake's grip on him. Holding him until he calmed down was all she could do, only Kimimaro could really quell his rage. Juugo continued to flail and curse her. He went into second stage and almost escaped her hold. It was a full twenty minutes before he finally calmed down. By then Kirika had begun to sweat and Juugo was panting.

She lowered him gingerly to his knees and the snakes retreated.

Juugo looked at her with wide eyes. He lowered his head and whispered a mortified apology.

Kirika straightened herself and swept the back of her hands over the skirt of her kimono.

Juugo scooted back against the wall. He hugged his knees and tried to even his breathing. It continued, though, and his pants soon turned into sobs.

Kirika knelt beside Juugo and cradled his head in her chest. "Shhh. It's okay." She ran her fingers through his hair and continued to shushed him. How such a strong man could be so fragile never ceased to astound her. But in a world of deceivers and double-crossers she thought Juugo the most genuinely innocent man alive, despite his insanity. And for that she loved him.

It was a while before Juugo swallowed his quiet cries.

She cupped his face. "You're calm now?"

"Y-yeah... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." He looked up at her with his large, innocent eyes glistening but quickly turned his gaze down again.

She smiled and ran her thumb across his cheek. "It's good to see you again, my friend."

Juugo opened his mouth. His eyes were sad and searching. "Are... Lady Kirika... are you okay?"

Kirika's face did not change, her smile stayed and she cocked her head ever so slightly.

Juugo pressed a hesitant hand over the one cupping the side of his face. "So it's true..." His expression changed from confusion to sadness. "Why else would you look so sad."

Kirika's face fell. She could not hide sadness from Juugo. She couldn't hide any emotion from him. He was sweet and mad and saw everything as is was. Kirika let out a breath. She sat and laid her head on his shoulder. She did not need to say anything further. If with no one else than kind, gentle Juugo, even Kirika could be fragile.

"You shouldn't sit so close." Juugo warned quietly.

Kirika's eyes closed. She smiled weakly. "I'll make sure nothing changes for you. I'll make sure you're still taken care of."

"I haven't gotten better." He murmured. "I want to get better."

Kirika sighed. "I'll make you better."

"Lord Orochimaru said the same thing." He flinched "I-... I'm sorry."

"No. It's alright."

"Was it really Sasuke Uchiha who killed him?"

"Is that what the rumours are saying?"

"Yeah."

"It's true."

"I'm sorry..."

Kirika sighed. "So am I..."

"Will you go after him?"

Kirika's grip tightened on her kimono's fabric. "I don't know... right now I don't think I could bear to see him."

"You were close?"

"Is that what your rumours tell you?"

He gave her a careful look. "I heard you were fu- together."

She smiled sadly. "No. But we were close."

Juugo nodde, and they were quiet for a while. "...I..."

Her eyes flickered to him.

"Lady Kirika. I'd like to go outside with you again... if it's okay..."

Kirika couldn't help smiling. Her eyes slit closed once more, her head laid back on his shoulder. "I'd like that too."

Kirika stood at a brick wall leading into a cave; the wall was covered with moss and corroded from time, but still sturdy. There were a few arched doorways in the wall, and glassless arched windows. She could not see what was inside the cave; through the openings there was only darkness.

She had seen this scene so many times it no longer roused nervousness. She took a dazed step and looked down. She looked to the mouth of the cave. Something was missing. She knew this cave. She knew this forest. She knew it all without context or understanding but she recognized it all the same. If from only the familiarity of repetition.

Something was missing.

Nothing urged her forward. She heard the whisper. "Come forward."

But it was not the whisper. Kirika took a step forward. She stepped stedily into the mouth of the cave. The air and mist of the forest were warm and moist on her skin. She walked for some time in absolute darkness. She saw a light ahead. Her slow pace did not quicken and when she reached it she found that the light was not the end of the tunnel. It was a crack in the ceiling. Light spilled in from above. When she stepped into it she stopped walking. She gazed up and felt like crying.

Kirika's head fell back to centre. The air hung stale in the tunnel and next to her in the light the little white snake hung dead on the wall. It was nailed there with a knife. The thing drooped down from the blade in it's middle. It's mouth was wide open, as were it's blank eyes. Snakes have no eyelids.

Kirika gazed back up at the sky. All she saw was grey.

Kirika's fingers scanned over the backs of books. The archives were overflowing with books, scrolls and papers. The archives of the Northern Hideout were not the biggest of Orochimaru's collections, but they came close. They were well kept, neat and barely dusty. She doubted she would find anything in these books that would settle the queerness her dream had left in her stomach, but when she woke up she wanted to read. If she was going to contemplate the strangeness of her reoccurring dreams she might as well read psychology reports.

According to Kabuto's reports the laboratories were in miraculously good condition. They'd sustained minimum damage since they were on a whole different floor from the cell blocks. Regardless, Kirika would take no risks with such delicate and dangerous materials inside. The prisoners had been quiet, They were sufficiently terrified of Kirika since she'd cut their rebellion down like a flower, and restorations were coming along well enough. So much so that the prisoners had been moved back to their original cells. The men Kirika had ordered to the Northern Hideout from other hideouts had all reported. All was well.

Kirika skimmed over the psychology in favour of a book of lab reports from the shelf. It was a report of an experiment done on her years ago. It served no real purpose, but they were the words Orochimaru wrote, and reading them comforted her. Her major task was completed. Otogakure was hers. But with that behind her she had nothing to distract herself with, and the sadness crept in. Sadness was dangerous. It smothered everything. Were she in better spirits, she would make for the laboratories like a moth to a flame. The prospect of experimentation seem arduous and that only frustrated her. What did she have if not her thirst for knowledge? To spite her own reservations, she was already planning three new experiments for when the labs were deemed usable.

She could go after Sasuke. The thought only sickened her. She didn't want to see his face. Kirika's fingers curled into the edges of the book cover, her nails dug into it. Now, she'd rather gouge his eyes out and grind them to shreds. Watch him bleed out. She'd have the damned secrets of his cursed clan dead to the world. But the scientist in her protested fiercely. And then she though of Sasuke as the boy who glared so sweetly when she'd first toyed with him; hard eyes gentle when she sat at beside his hospital bed; the determined ninja she'd trained. And then the safe arms when her mother died. When she though of that her frustration became hurt again.

There was a soft knock on the door. Kabuto stepped into the room. "My lady." He nodded. "It's urgent."

Kirika looked up from her book.

"Sasuke's been spotted in the area. He's headed in this direction."

Kirika's head turned up like an automaton. Her eyes were wide and harsh. The pages beneath her fingers were crinkled. There was laughter in her eyes. Kirika's real, sarcastic laughter that Kabuto though might have died with Orochimaru. Her lips curled up and she laughed. Kirika glided across the room and slipped the book back into it's appropriate spot on the shelf. She turned back to Kabuto, smiling.

"My, my. Things have gotten droll. I fear the poor atmosphere had rubbed off on me."

"My lady?"

"Ah, Kabuto, you'll forgive me for my dreadful mood. Sasuke's come as our guest. I must give my dear friend a proper reception. I'll be wanting you to guard the laboritories." She clapped her hands together. "Kindly assemble the guards. "

Suigetsu plopped down on the ground. "Hey! Can we rest a second?"

"Get up you slacker! Stop asking for breaks! We're practically there!" Karin shouted "It's the Katana! It's too heavy! Just drop the thing so we can move go!" When Karin looked to Sasuke for confirmation he ignored them and stared up to the watch tower of the Northern Hideout, nestled between two tall protruding rock formations.

His calm voice cut through their squabble. "Where's the guard that's supposed to be on lookout?"

Karin looked up and cocked her head. "He's gone."

"Sasuke." Karin came up at his side. "The prisoners here are highly unstable. Do you think they rioted and killed the guards?"

Sasuke glanced around. "In that care we'd be seeing escapees. It's too quiet."

"Eh?" Suigetsu scratched the back of his head. "You two are digging too deep into things. Maybe they're switching out. Could be it's already abandoned."

Sasuke frowned. "Let go. But be cautious."

Suigetsu jiggled another doorknob. Locked. Every door in every hallway was locked. The cell doors were closed, but unlocked. Suigetsu looked up at Sasuke and nodded. "That's weird."

Sasuke's eyes darted about. He did not like this. It was too quiet. No gaurds. No prisoners. The cells were empty, but every other door was locked. Sasuke looked at his companions. "Something's wrong."

"Karin, can you sense anyone?"

"Uh, hold on." She closed her eyes and pressed her hands together in a sign. "It's odd... I think there may be people in the lower levels but... I don't know how to describe it... fuzzy?"

"Can you locate Juugo?"

"Hold on I'll try."

Suigetsu moved on to another door.

"Sasuke..." Karin whispered, her eyes were open. "Don't move."

Suigetsu looked up.

"Look down the hall. Very slowly."

So many eyes were watching them. Silted and yellow. They hisses and glared from the floor. They hung from the walls and ceiling ducts. Snakes. Countless snakes. Sasuke looked down. They were encroaching from behind, too.

"W-what is this?"

"Take a guess."

"Orochimaru's bitch daughter!" Suigetsu growled. "She's here, too! She's trying to kill us! Sasuke, tell me how exactly you plan on getting her to join us?"

"Just stay calm. Karin, keep looking for Juugo." Sasuke slowly moved his hand to the hilt of his katana. "She's only toying with us."

"I could lose it at any time! Please, lock me back in!"

"I told you Juugo was dangerous, Sasuke." Suigetsu glanced over the hole in the wall and the rubble strewn about the hall from Juugo's immediate rampage. "Just walking next to him would be a huge risk."

Juugo screamed from the other side of the door. "What the hell do you want from me!? Just leave me alone!"

"Orochimaru's dead." Sasuke called back. "It won't be long before this place falls apart. You'll go down with it if you don't leave."

"You're wrong! If I leave I'll just kill more people! But here Lady Kirika can help me... She promised..."

Sasuke leaned towards the door. His eyes narrowed. "So she is here..." He called out. "Juugo... I'm here for her too."

"That's not good enough... I need to stay here. The only one who could calm my impulses was Kimimaro..."

Suigetsu sighed. "Come on, Sasuke. We've been running circles through traps in here for hours and for what? A psycho killer and a madwoman with a grudge? Juugo's not coming and neither is Kirika. He'll kill us buy accident, and she'll slit your throat and lock me back up. If we're lucky."

Sasuke ignored him. "Juugo, Kimimaro is dead. He died fighting for my sake."

"He died... for you!? That mean... you're... Sasuke Uchiha?"

"Yes."

The door creaked open. Juugo stared at Sasuke with wonder. Now I get it, Kimimaro. His head cocked, he mused. "You even look a bit like him..."

Sasuke's eyes were calm and all business, not unlike Kimimaro's. "She won't risk hurting you with her traps, will she? Can you take me to Kirika?"

"Did Kirika know I was coming for you?"

"I don't think so." Juugo's blank face turned to Sasuke. "She's been waiting for you."

"She told you that?"

"No. It was obvious."

Sasuke let out a breath. He gripped the handles of the double doors and looked back at Juugo, Suigetsu and Karin. "You three wait here."

"Just call if you want me." Juugo offered. Sasuke gave him a quick nod. It was never a bad thing to have a good word from an old friend.

"No hard feelings if she doesn't want to come." Suigetsu nodded.

"Absolutely." Karin agreed

Sasuke pushed the doors open with the roll of his eyes.

The room was large, dark and still. The only movement being the flicker of the candles. Kirika sat cross-legged in her chair, she sipped tea. Sasuke noticed she liked to drink tea when she was in command. He supposed it did make her look more business-like. She always said green tea made her sharper, gave her hands something to do.

Sasuke closed the door behind him. Kirika never looked up from the cup in her hands. She sipped gingerly. Sasuke stayed silent. For some reason, he expected her to be wearing her ninja clothing. Perhaps it was on under her kimono. Dark purple; the best colour on her. And her signature obi-tie with the white snake wrapping around it.

Sasuke was the one to break the silence. "You look beautiful."

"I know." She spoke lightly and looked down on him. Her face was calm, the slightest hint of a smile on her lips but her eyes were cruel and calculating as ever. It had been a long time since such annoyance was directed toward him. Sasuke felt a pang of guilt. He could see the bags under her eyes; the red in them... and the sadness. He'd done that. "So," Her voice was a playful sing-song. "what brings you to my little lair?"

"Just passing by."

She sipped her tea.

"You seem exhausted, Kirika."

"Yes, well, maintaining a network of ninja bases can be quiet cumbersome... I see you've take Suigetsu Hozuki and Karin."

Sasuke let out a breath. After over four years together her constant switch between playfulness and dead seriousness had become somewhat readable.

"I believe I've told you how fond I am of Suigetsu." Her eyes narrowed. "I dare say he was one of my favourite test subject. And Karin, she was an asset. I was far from done with her.

"I didn't take them. They're with me of their own accords."

"They were mine. You took them from me."

"I won't let you experiment on them. But you can spend all the time you want observing them."

She rested her head on her knuckle. She wore an expression of amusement. "Oh? Observe them, hmm? How generous. And how ever shall I repay your generosity?"

"By joining me."

"Who exactly do you think I am?" Kirika's smile fell. "You think I'll abandon everything I've built up? Everything my father has left me? For you? You should know me better than that."

"I know you will." Sasuke met her dark gaze unblinking. "I know you better than anyone."

"What do you know?"

"I know you'll keep your promise."

Sasuke's eyes flickered back, unflinching. A snake hissed in his ear, it wrapped around him.

"My promise?" She laughed "Fuck the promise. Fuck our deal. Fuck your revenge and your wretched eyes." Her voice was a poisonous hiss. "I would kill you where you stand," The snake was gone. It was Kirika. Kirika hissing in his ear. Kirika's arms binding him. "But father wouldn't want that..." Her thumb stroked his cheek. She was smiling again, her head rested on his shoulder. "I'd sooner gouge those beautiful eyes of yours. I could keep you locked up down here and stick you full of needles." She whispered.

Sasuke blinked. The genjustu broke. Kirika was still in her chair. Sasuke glanced up at her, unfazed. His voice was calm. He assured her. "You'll keep your promise."

"You expect me to help you carry out your revenge?" Kirika glared. "How dare you..." She ground her teeth. "How dare you kill my father and expect me to fall to your side."

"Kirika, you swore you would help me kill Itachi. You swore you would take my eyes. You swore to me you would stay with me."

"And you have the nerve..."

"Have you forgotten!?" Sasuke's voice rose. "We've come so far! You trained me! You protected me! You offered the deal to me! You sat at my hospital bed so many times! You told me stories! You cried in my arms! You held my hand after Orochimaru gave me the curse mark!" He touched his neck and thought of when he was hospitalised after the preliminaries of the chunin exams. The dream he had of Kirika dancing through the burning village. And it was Kirika; he'd never been more certain. He thought of the song from her pocket watch. She sang the words as she danced, and he understood where they had come from in the dream. "You-! You sang to me then... when I slept..."

Kirika sat up. A deep frown was etched into her face and Sasuke noticed that her eyes were wet. "You betrayed us... you betrayed me..."

"Think Kirika! Orochimaru was using you! He would have taken my body and thrown me away! When you lost your usefulness he would have done the same to you! He never cared about anyone but himself!"

"Liar." She hissed

"He did the same to Hideko!" Sasuke shouted.

Kirika's eyes widened. Her nails dug into the armrests.

"He kidnapped you and left her broken! What do you think happened!?"

Kirika growled. "Shut... up..."

"Kirika," Sasuke gave her a pleading look, yet the steel never left his eyes. "I did it for you, Kirika. You're free now." And his eyes softened. The held...

"Fuck you Sasuke. You betrayed me."

"You should know me better than that." He looked her in the eyes. "I love you, Kirika! I've loved you since you sang to me!"

Kirika reeled back, wide eyed.

"Kirika," Sasuke's eyes held nothing but love, and Kirika saw it. "Keep your promise. You can kill me in the end but let me love you until that moment."

Kirika fell from her chair. "I can't..." She crumbled to her knees and buried her face in her hands. "I can't look at you..." She was almost in tears. "Get out..."

"You are the only love left in my heart." Sasuke took a step closer.

"Get out..."

"I'll say it as many times as I need too." He took another step. "I love you."

"I'll kill you!" Kirika's body roared alight with purple flames, she lunged towards him.

Sasuke leapt back from reach, Kirika hurled her katana from her mouth at him, Sasuke sidestepped and it embedded itself it the wall. She gripped it and rushed him. He stepped back, blocking her blows. They were frantic from rage, but still precise. Sasuke's eyes widened as he tripped backwards. Kirika lunged before her own eyes widened.

Juugo came between them, his second-stage armoured arm intercepted her blade. "Please, Lady Kirika." Juugo looked to Sasuke. "For the love you bore Kimimaro..."

Suigetsu and Karin stood gaping at the door.

Kirika's arms fell to her sides. Her Katana fell to the floor with an echoing clink. Her lowered head was shrouded by her hair, but she shook with sad, cynical laughter. "So you're betraying me now, too?"

Juugo frowned. "It's not like that..."

"You came of your own will... who am I to stop you from leaving?"

"Lady Kirika..."

"Get out. All of you leave!" She ran a shaking hand through her hair.

"Kirika..." Sasuke was standing again, He reached a hand out for her face.

Kirika's head rose like a puppet. Her eyes were dead. She whispered. "Leave me..."

Sasuke's head lowered. He thought of his fever dream. Kirika had burst into petals when their hands touched. She looked as if she might really burst at his touch. Sasuke raised his eyes to look at her, but she was gone. Sasuke's arm went limp. Was that it? Were they doomed to kill each other like in the autumn crocus' story?

"So much for her..." Suigetsu muttered.

Sasuke's gripped his katana's hilt tightly. At that moment he would have like nothing more than to cut Suigetsu open. Juugo shattered the thought when he put his hand on Sasuke's shoulder.

"We need to go. She won't give us long, and if she sees us in this base again she really will kill us."

Sasuke took a deep breath before heading for the door. He steeled himself before facing his team. "Move out."