Making A Wish Under The Sun

EPISODE 22: Prisoner

"I don't get why she has to come with us!" Karin exclaimed.

Sasuke led the group of three. Emi was stuck between him and Karin. Sasuke had remained mostly silent during their travel. Karin was quite huffy about another female. When Emi had asked where they were headed, Karin had told her, her words dripping with venom, that they were headed to the Northern Hideout. Emi had kept other questions to herself. She'd been lucky that Sasuke hadn't killed her. She just had to follow his instructions and not try to escape and she could leave. Apparently he knew about the Yokubo as well.

"We should be there soon," Sasuke suddenly spoke up.

"Now, what are we heading there for exactly?" Emi asked.

"Just shut up-" "We're going to find someone to join us," Sasuke said.

"Interesting. What do you call this 'us'?" Emi asked. She heard a huff from behind her. It was Karin. She looked back at Sasuke, his back to her.

"Hebi," he simply stated.

The group travelled in silence for a bit before reaching an entrance. Sasuke entered on his own.

"Who are you to Sasuke?" Karin suddenly got into Emi's face.

"Uh no one really," she explained.

"Don't get too chatty with him. He's mine, got it?" Karin stated.

"He's not my type-" "Sasuke is everyone's type!" Karin raved.

"I just mean I'm not attracted to him like you are. I don't really have much of a preference I suppose," she admitted.

"Good," Karin said. A few long moments passed and Sasuke exited, followed by a massive ginger haired man.

"Karin, Emi, meet Jūgo," Sasuke introduced the man.

He was quiet. It was strange, a bird landed on his shoulder. Emi felt her face grow hot for a moment before she cleared her throat and offered her hand to shake his. He looked down at her, then to Sasuke. He took her hand gingerly and gave a silent nod in greeting. Emi's face was flushed. He released her hand and backed up a bit. She stared at his massive shoulders and her brain remembered the bath with Kisame. She looked down at her feet, her ears and face turning a bit red.

"Now we head East," Sasuke instructed, "We'll rest in the next town we come across."

The group headed out. It was quite some time before they reached a small town. They all stayed in a room with a single bed. The inn keep had given them quite the suspicious look. If Emi had a chance to contact the Leaf, now would be the time. They all headed up to the room and unloaded their belongings. Emi stretched her arms up and flexed her calves.

"Go get us food," Sasuke tossed her a pouch of money, "Karin, go with her and make sure she doesn't escape."

Emi was then escorted out by Karin. The trip had felt longer than it actually was. Emi picked up food, an assortment of sweets and actual quick meals. On their way back, Karin pointed out a mixed bath house. Emi said she'd pass. She didn't want another incident like last time. Karin began gushing about seeing Sasuke in the bath house.

When they returned Emi gave the food to Sasuke who divied it up amongst them. He offered her a melon bread and she didn't accept it. He insisted, saying she needed to eat if she was going to keep up. He didn't want a dead weight with them. She reached for her bag and explained she had her own food. He only gave a small scowl and took the bread back. Emi checked her bag and ate the last bit of provisions she had. Dried meat.

"So why are we headed East?" Emi asked.

"To meet up with Suigetsu, another person of interest," Sasuke stated, eating a bite of dango.

"So why did you choose who you did?" Emi asked.

"It's really none of your concern," Sasuke calmly stated.

"Oh! Sasuke! There's a bath house down the road. How about we go together?" Karin asked.

"A bath would be nice... Plus you stink," he said, looking to Emi.

She did a subtly pit sniff. He was right.

"Fine..." She said, her fave turning into a scowl.