Kaira's POV.

After washed my shirt, which was slighty stained with blood, I left it to dry and took a long warm shower to get myself cleaned up. While doing so, I thought about everything Sasuke said the last few weeks. About my dad, the Akatsuki, and about me.

When he first said that Madara was using me to reach his own goals, I didn't know what to think of it, but after giving it a lot of thought, I was slowly going to think he was right.I knew my father wasn't one of the good guys in this world, but he did raise me. I could never hate him, but I wasn't looking up to him either. He taught me everything I know.

He could be very strict and his lessons were pretty rigorous. There were countless times he told me to keep going while I was at my limit, but he did make me into the person I am today. And I was grateful to him for that.But there were also countless times I wondered how it was to live a village. Having to go to the academy, being placed in a team with a sensei. I didn't know what would be better; this life, or the one in the village.

I knew I wouldn't be this strong if I was raised in a village, but I am a criminal now. I had to follow orders and complete missions to we would have something to eat every day .I knew the things I did were bad, but there was no going back. I committed too many sins, unlike Suki. She wasn't even a murderer, and only completed small missions, like stealing a scroll.

Did I feel guilty for what I did? Not really. The people I have killed deserved it. I killed them with a reason. They were a threat to the people I hold dear. Besides, the blood on my hands is the blood of the people who were criminals themselves.

Dad lived in a village before he left, and he told me he didn't have a really good experience with living like that. Maybe he was just assuming the same would happen to us.

But dad was acting a bit strange lately. He was more stressed and busy than ever. I knew something big was coming, but dad never informed me about it.

Turning off the faucet, I grabbed a towel and dried myself, wrapping the cloth around me after. The shirt I washed was still moist, so I decided to only put on my tank top. .Even though it was a bit short, it wasn't too exposing. After putting on some shorts and brushing my hair, I left the bathroom.

I wanted to look for Sasuke, to ask for his opinion. He may have already given it, but I wanted to know what I should do. Hearing voices in the hallway, I knew what way to go. The hallways were dark, and a funny smell hung around the place. It was weird to think that Sasuke lived here with Orochimaru. This place was horrible.

The voices became louder, and it didn't take long to reach the room where Sasuke and Zetsu were. When I peeked into the room, I saw Zetsu, Juugo and Sasuke standing around a table with some sort of map in the middle of it. Candlelight flickered, casting long shadows on the wall and floor. They didn't seem to notice me as they looked like they were consulting.

Juugo was the first one to notice me. He was the only one who didn't have his back turned to me after all. ''Kaira?''

Now, Sasuke and Zetsu turned around, looking at me as well.

''Sasuke.. Can I talk to you for a bit?'' I asked softly. I wanted to talk to him alone. If Zetsu knew about me beginning to doubt dad and the Akatsuki, he would tell dad for sure. And it just didn't have anything to do with Juugo.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes, knowing something was bothering me. I noticed a tired look in his eyes as he sighed. ''Wait in my room, I'll be there in a bit.'''

I nodded slowly and Zetsu sent me a suspicious look before turning back to the table. I walked away from the room, heading to Sasuke's instead. It was still hard to find the way around here. It was like a labyrinth, but I knew about where Sasuke's room was.

When I found it, I opened the door and flicked on the light switch. His room was pretty neat, tidier than mine. That would be because someone actually used this room, while mine was unoccupied.

Sitting down on the bed, I let out a yawn. I didn't know what time it was, but I did know that it should be around midnight now. And tomorrow, we would continue to head to the Five Kage Summit. I decided to go back before then. Even though Suki already left, Izuna and mom are still back at the base, and I couldn't let Asuki take care of them all the time.

I lay down and continued to wait. Even though I told myself to stay awake, my eyes kept flattering closed, no matter how many times I opened them again.

Sasuke's POV.

It took longer than I thought, and I didn't think Kaira would be patient enough to wait for me this long. I wondered what she wanted to talk to me about. She wasn't someone who would ask others for help or advice.

When I opened the door to my room, I neither saw nor heard anything  so I assumed she had already left. But when I walked further into the room, I noticed a form lying on the bed.

Closing the door behind my back, I looked a little longer at the sleeping girl. Her face held now a peaceful expression instead of the serious look she usually wore. I walked at the desk on the other side of the room and removed the cloth around my waist and took my shirt off, running my hand through my hair after.

Turning around, I walked to the bed and once I reached it, I looked down at Kaira. She's changed a bit lately, but I didn't know if I was supposed to like this change or not. It was a good change, but it also had its downsides. Carefully brushing a few strands of her hair out of her face, I lay down next to her.

I never meant to wake her up, but when I lay down, the mattress sunk a bit, and Kaira shifted, her eyebrows furrowed. Her eyes slowly opened, but widened slightly when she looked right into mine. Knowing what her reaction would be, I put my arm around her waist to keep her in place while she tried to scoot away from me.

''L-Let me go, Sasuke.'' she stammered, still squirming uncomfortably. I sighed, and only tightened the embrace to keep her from going away. ''Where are you intending to go then?''

''To my room.'' she answered as she tried to pull my arm away. ''I just fell asleep here.''

Sometimes I failed to understand her. Then she was confident, then she acted unsure and a little bit shy around me, and now she's trying to get away while we already have shared a bed before? Could it be that she was acting this way because of was happened earlier this day? Her face was pretty flushed after I kissed her. But to think she would be this embarrassed.. It was almost funny. Almost. She looked nearly scared instead. But why?

Grabbing her upper arm, I pushed her shoulder against the bed and went on top of her, straddling her waist. Kaira squirmed but I managed to hold her down. "Calm down." I mumbled and Kaira clenched her jaw, but stopped struggling.

I sighed and looked at her questioningly. ''Can I let you go?''

Kaira nodded and I released her arms, but didn't move from my position. She looked quite uncomfortable, but at the moment, I didn't care. ''Does this have to do something with what you wanted to talk to me about?'' I asked.

''No, it doesn't.'' Kaira answered quietly

''I really don't get you sometimes.'' I said. ''Why are you acting this way? We've been this close before, and yet you act like you don't want it. Sometimes I think you are even scared of me, an-''

''I'm not scared of you.'' Kaira interrupted me hastily. ''It's just..'' she slowly trailed off.

''Just what?''

''I've never been in a relationship before- Heck I've never loved someone other than my family before.'' Kaira confessed. ''Around you, I often just don't know what to do or what to say. I feel awkward and uncertain about the things I do while you know exactly what to do or say. I just-''

I didn't even know if she realised what she was saying, and I wouldn't mind it at all to hear the rest of her blurted confession, but knowing she's be embarrassed about it, I shut her up by pressing my lips against hers.

When I pulled away, I kept hovering over her. ''You aren't doing or saying anything wrong, and I don't care if you do.'' I spoke. ''You just have to be yourself.''

Kaira averted her gaze, but I wouldn't let her. Bringing my hand to her cheek, I made her look at me while I slowly leaned in. My lips brushed against hers before I tilted her head and captured her lips in a deep but slow kiss instead.

I shivered once I felt Kaira's cold hands in my neck, her nails softly grazing my skin. Even now, I could tell Kaira wasn't sure about what she was doing, yet she was unconsciously driving me over the edge.

Parting for oxygen, I brought my lips to her jaw instead. I heard Kaira's breath hitched as I pressed soft kisses on her skin. Going down to her neck, I felt her shudder and she lowered her hands from my neck until her palms were flat against my chest, pushing me gently.

I raised my head and looked down, seeing Kaira look back at me. I pressed my lips against hers in a quick and last kiss before I lay down next to her, deciding this was enough.

Kaira scooted a bit closer to me, and I contentedly wrapped one arm around her slim waist, holding her against me.

Even though the things I was about to do would cut all the ties between me and Konoha, and it would only make me more hated and despised, my future looked a little more bright with her next to me.