Let It Burn: Death [Sasuke Uchiha]

Chapter 27

Like the Be Fong promised she showed up during the other's activities the following day. Sasuke had been the first notice her approach still dressed in uniform, but the weapons pouch was missing. Their chatter began to quiet as the group watched her approach to stop in front of the Uchiha. They stared at each other for a moment in silence. Some worried the former friends would begin fighting, others wondering what they would say to each other. This was the first time the two would be in contact since the end of the war. As far as they knew anyway.

"So, what's it like being back?" Mai finally asked.

"It's different," he answered. "Things have changed."

"Thanks to Pein."

Sakura winced waiting for the two to go at it.

"Took you long enough to come back," Mai continued.

"I was busy."

"Obviously." She then glanced over at the others. "Anyone hungry? I could go for barbeque after training."

"Let's go!" Choji exclaimed. Naruto followed by quickly agreeing as well. As the group began talking once more and made their way towards the designated restaurant, the Be Fong's attention went back to the Uchiha.

"You still like eating that, right?"

He gave a nod. "Glad you remembered."

"Well, you were always so picky. It's easy to remember what you like."

Sasuke chuckled under his breath as the two walked side-by-side. The tense atmosphere had disappeared, the others watching them go. They were surprised to see them acting civilly. It had been so long since seeing the familiar sight of the Uchiha and Be Fong side-by-side, it made them pause. Mai glanced over a shoulder when she noticed no one following and cocked a brow at them.

"Are you coming or not?" she wondered.

They scrambled to catch up.

Throughout the week Mai made her presence known. Not saying much, which didn't strike anyone as odd, but would at least attempt to be involved in their activities. And every evening the group would part ways only for Sasuke to turn back up at the Be Fong's home to eat and sleep. So was their routine for two weeks. It was nice for Naruto to see Mai coming out of her shell the more she was around. And it appeared that Sasuke and Mai were accepting each other's presence. They were... friendly, more or less, but kept at a distance from each other. As if the Be Fong was afraid of being hurt, while the Uchiha didn't want to get too comfortable because he was leaving again. At least they weren't outwardly fighting.

At the end of the day their quiet meals were not as restless, enjoying the silence in the home. There were even some nights where the two conversed over missions they participated in, in each other's absence.

"Aside from me running a blade through your chest before knowing who it was, were you ever on a mission that your life was on the line?" Sasuke asked.

Mai sat for a moment in thought, chewing her food. "I was aiding a group in the Land of Water," the Be Fong said. "There was a rogue. They had a habit of decapitating their prey."

"Who were they hunting?"

"Innocent people without any chakra levels. The criminal was a coward because his prey couldn't fight back. When we caught up with him, we realized why others had been unable to kill him. The man was immune to pain. He had been trained not to feel it having come from the Land of Mountains. They have a rather harsh terrain over there. Two in our party were killed in his extermination, and another died later from their wounds due to being crushed."