Unbreakable (Book 1) #Wattys2015

Coldness- Katsu

Katsu hung there over his shoulders, for what had to be hours, as Sasuke tirelessly ran through the bamboo forest. Katsu was still half expecting herself to abruptly wake up from the vivid nightmare. It would happen any second, she tried forcing herself to believe. She would awaken back at their small house in the Village of Bamboo Stalks any second. But no matter how many times Katsu pinched herself, she started to worry it might not be a dream. No, this was really happening.

When the sun finally peeked out from behind the dark clouds indicating the first signs of dawn, Sasuke didn't slow his efficient pace. If anything, he sped it up.

Katsu ground her teeth together considering whether or not to ask the question that was racing through her mind. Would he even answer? Not able to find a valid reason why not, Katsu opened her mouth. "Where are we going?" she asked, proud that her voice stayed firm.

"It's not your place to ask," Sasuke swiftly replied, his tone frustratingly condescending. He was enjoying his authority.

"Oh, come on," she tried again, still dangling from his hold. "I can't really do anything with that information in this kind of situation, can I?"

"True," Sasuke acknowledged smugly as he vaulted over a boulder. "But I am not stupid enough to underestimate you."

"You're still pretty stupid," Katsu grumbled under her breath.

But he still managed to hear her. "Oh, I don't like your tone, Katsu," he said, his voice indicating an underlying threat. "I advise you show me a little more respect than that. Just a helpful suggestion..." he added, his tone clearly revealing that it wasn't a suggestion at all but a strict order.

Katsu rolled her eyes in disgust but reluctantly shut up. Pompous jerk... 

She wondered what Kakashi and the kids were doing in that moment. Sure the kids were safe, but was Kakashi? Her stomach churned as she recalled Sasuke's eerie comment earlier: 'I, however, have no say in who Orochimaru chooses to dispose of'.  Could the Copycat Ninja truly fend for himself against Orochimaru, the legendary Snake Sannin?

Katsu forced herself to suppress her worry. She had to have more faith in her sensei. Her boyfriend. He would be fine.

She and Sasuke exchanged no words throughout the day, him only slowing down occasionally to let her stretch or eat food pills. Then it was back onto his shoulders. Katsu was impressed by how long and far he could run. He'd been doing it all day. And now she had an awful kink in her neck from the position she was held in.

The sky began turning from a deep orange-pink to a gradual, darkening blue. Katsu wondered what time it was though she could tell by the sunset that it was some time in the evening. They were no longer in the massive bamboo forest, instead the smell of pine needles filling Katsu's nostrils. They were on the outskirts of a new forest, this one completely unrecognizable to Katsu. Where were they? The temperature was fairly cold, an occasional wind ruffling her hair. Boulders were scattered everywhere, the ground stony with little soil.

Sasuke lowered her to the ground. "We're camping here tonight," he said, his tone welcoming no questions about it.

Katsu nodded once and stretched, then moved to enter the forest.

Sasuke voice stopped her in her tracks. "And where are you going?" he asked, his dark eyebrows raised.

Katsu turned her head back slowly to look at him. "What? I can't relieve myself? I haven't gone all day. Do I need your permission for that too?!"

Sasuke narrowed his eyes and her glare faltered. He was so intimidating, it was truly extraordinary. "Make it quick," he finally said. "And I swear, if you try to run–"