ANBU in Hogwarts

Chapter 4: Understanding

Sasuke walked through the castle, memorizing every corridor and hallway. After all, his job was to protect the school and the students. How helpful could he possible be if he got lost in one of the many hallway mazes?

The morning had not started off unusually, the two shinobi had been introduced to the teachers, many of them seemed suspicious of the ninja but did not voice their opinions. After that encounter, they had breakfast.

Sasuke smirked, remembering what had happened at breakfast. Many of the teachers stared at the two of them when they sat down for their meal, watching them, as if waiting for them to take off their masks. He knew both he and Naruko were thinking the same thing, they did the necessary hand signs under the table and created a Genjutsu mask under their real ones.To add to the suspense, both had taken their sweet time taking off their Anbu masks, the teacher's were on the edge of their seats as the ninja finally unknotted the cloths of their mask, letting the teacher's see... yet another one...

At that moment Sasuke had almost felt the grin of Naruko's face. The teachers had been quite disappointed, some were even scowling, but the meal continued...

Sasuke smiled again, playing the memory again in his head. Other then that, nothing of any significance happened that morning when a tiny scream sounded.

He rounded another corner, only to come face to face to a certain blonde.

"Sasuke!" Naruko said happily, but the dark haired boy could sense a bit of desperation,

" Dobe?"

Naruko shuddered and hid slightly behind the taller ninja as a pearly spectuar glided past them.

" You afraid of ghosts?" Sasuke deadpanned behind his mask.

Naruko cringed and Sasuke tried not to feel disappointed when she let go of his arm.

"I've been looking for you forever.I ran into this really mean teacher, Sasuke! He had this crooked nose and greasy black hair. He called me short! And I was about to kick his ass when he just turns around and walks away. But then I noticed that he did this awesome thing with his robe, it , billows! And there was no wind! Just like Neji's hair when he talks about fate!" Naruko babbled embrassed

Sasuke just stared at girl the for a second before cracking a grin behind his mask, "You've been getting off topic, why are you so afraid of ghosts?"

Naruko stiffened slightly ," Its not important, we have work to do."

Thats it!

Sasuke grabbed Naruko's arm and shushined them to thier rooms.

" What are you doing Sasuke?" Hissed Naruko.

Sasuke jerked off his mask and tossed it on a nearby chair.

" What am I doing, what they hell are you doing ? You think I can't tell that you're avoiding me even when we are alone, you wont even look me im the eye for more than a few seconds!"

Naruko stared at the furious Uchiha in shock. She couldn't resist jerking away from him when he ripped the mask from her face in anger.

" See? Even now you act like im going to attack you at any moment, damnit Naruko when are you going to trust me?!"

Naruko flushed and balled her hands in anger.

" You dont think I have a reason Sasuke! I trusted you before and that only earned me a Chidori through the chest!"

Sasuke flinched and backed away slightly.

Naruko lightly traced the scarred area that lay underneath her armour.

" You were on of the few people I trusted fully, I would've given up my left arm if it could save your life. You were my friend, my first bond and you betrayed me!"
Naruko shouted, all the feelings she had held back spilling forward in a rush and silent tears ran unnoticed down her cheeks.

" And after that you have the nerve to ask why dont I trust you!"

Sasuke walked toward the crying blonde, chest aching and throat tight as he witnessed the result of his selfishness.

Naruko stiffened when he huggef her, pulling her tightly against his armor. She struggled freebly till his voice made her still.

" Forgive me. I...I am sorry. "

" Why did you have to do it yourself? Why did you..." leave me..

" I couldn't. I loved you."

Naruko froze in shock, " Wha..what?"

" I love you. I didn't want to risk your safety to reach my goal." He murmered against her head and let her pull away.

Naruko stared up at him, his face unusally vulnerable and open.

"That's the stupidest thing I've heard." She croaked, voice raw from shouting.

" You loved me yet you tried to kill me."

Sasuke sighed and ran his fingers through his hair in a disteacted manner.

" Have you ever known me to miss a target?" Sasuke frowned," I had planned to simply knock you out if we met but the curse seal," he fingered the mark, " it overwhelmed me to the point where I couldn't remember my goals, just that I had to get to that snake no matter what."

" I never wanted to cause you pain. For the first time since Itachi destroyed my home, you made me feel alive, gave me something to fight for." He said looking at her with a sad gaze.

Naruko rubbed a hand against her eyes and met his coal eyes.

" How do I know you aren't lying?"

Sasuke gave a tight smile, " You don't. "

A sudden hot pain erupted in his cheek and launched him into the wall, cracking it slightly. Touching the rapidly brusing area, he stared at her in shock.

" That is for being an idiot and giving in to that snake-face creep." She stated before kneeling next to him in a blur of speed.

Lightly she touched her lips to his, a slight flutter of warmth from mouth to mouth.

" And that is for everything else."

Sasuke smiled at the blonde, feeling lighter now that he knew he was forgiven, now that they reached an understanding.

" So what now dobe? Where do we stand?"

Naruki smiled mischievously at the crouching shinobi

" That's for you to figure out, you are a genius after all Teme."

Sasuke smirked and with a tug against the blonde drew her in to a fiery kiss.

Free of the anger and the pain, the kiss wad sweet. A balm that soothed and healed the wounds of the past and drew the two closer.

Breaking for air, sasuke touchef his head to hers.

" You know I didn't hear you reciprocate. "

Naruko leaned back and raised a brow, " Was this not anwser enough?"

" I'd still like to hear it."

" I love you Sasuke."

" Dobe. "

" Argh don't call ne that Teme!"