Lea POV

It felt like we have been walking for hours. After the fight with Kanji and Kimo, we didn't even get any time to rest and now the sun was going down and I felt as if my limbs were going to fall apart. Even Mami had gone back to take a rest.

"I'm tired!" Naruto whined. He flung his arms around lazily, his body bent as if his fatigue was making it hard to move. "Can't we take a rest?"

"We have to get to the hidden village, Naruto." Sakura said calmly. "And that fight we had really set us back on time."

"But if we don't stop now, I'm going to die!" A loud rumbling sounded. "And I'm hungry."

Walking behind everyone else, I saw Hinata hold her belly.

"I'm a little hungry too..."

"Yeah, me too," Kiba jumped in. "Can't we stop to eat?"

"Will you all stop your whining?" Sakura scolded. "Just suck it up and continue walking."

"It's okay Sakura," Horo said, coming to a halt. "We should rest. We don't want to be in too bad a shape if we meet up on anymore enemy ninjas and, besides, the sun is going down."

"Yahoo!" Naruto whooped. "I'll make the fire."

"W-wait! Naruto-kun! It's dangerous!" Hinata ran after him.

I remained rooted to where I stood. I was in a very, very bad mood. Not only was I tired but I was damn hungry too and the combination was making me very cranky. I kept my distance and wasn't say a word, because I knew how I could get when I was cranky or miserable.

"Okay, while they're off doing that ... Kiba and Shino, you guys set traps around the camp. Sasuke and Lea, you two go find us some food. Sakura, you and I will set up the tents."

"Hey, why do I have to find food?" I whined.

Horo didn't even look at me. "Because I said so," he answered.

I groaned. This was the last thing I wanted to do. I had hoped to stay awake long enough to eat before I fell asleep. I had so been looking forward to that.

I looked around for Sasuke. It was then I noticed that I hadn't seen hide nor hair of him since the fight. I turned around and he was staring holes into my back. I faced him.

"Stop brooding back there and let's go."

I had expected him to give some snide remark. I thought we were way past the 'I don't talk' phase. Instead, he kept staring at me, his face impassive.

None of my business.

I turned my back to him and started walking. After a moment, I heard his footsteps behind me. I kept walking with my arms crossed before I noticed that I had no idea where I was going.

"So," I said turning back to him. "What's for dinner?"

He came to a stop. It was eerie how his eyes became so bright when he was staring intensely.

"What's wrong with you?" I asked him.

After a moment, he answered. "Nothing."

His gaze broke away from mine and he looked up at the moon. "We can lay some traps for some game. But to speed things up we need to lure them to the traps."

"Okay, genius. Do your magic."

I sat down, Indian style, leaning against a tree. I sighed, content.

"You expect me to do all the work?"

I popped one eye open. "Well, it was your idea."

Sasuke opened his mouth to say something but then closed it just as quickly. I frowned. What was with him?

I leaned over. "Hey Sasuke..."

He looked back at me. "Hm?"

"What's wrong with you?"

His eyes caught mine before shifting away. "I'm hungry."

"Do not lie to me," I growled at him.

"I'm not lying. I'm hungry."

"You may be hungry but that's not the reason you're upset."

"Look it's none of your business, okay? Leave me the hell alone."

I clenched my fist to hold back my remark. His words were all halfhearted. I didn't like it at all. I preferred the talking Sasuke, I could even tolerate the moody one. But the halfhearted one would not sit with me.

I did a silent sigh and got up, brushing my clothes off. Sasuke's back was turned to me, fumbling with what I assume is the trap.

"Yo, Sasuke," I called.

"What do you want now?" he asked without turning around.

"Just look, will you?"

He put the trap down and turned around. As soon as he did, I sent a punch into his face. He staggered, clutching his cheek.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" he shouted at me, shocked.

I flexed my neck and shoulder blades, still looking at him. Walking up to him I punched him in his stomach and was just about to punch him in the face again but he caught my fist.

"Stop messing with me, Lea."

I didn't answer. I sprang away from him, holding my fist up, ready for a fight.

Sasuke looked at me with a spark of anger in his eyes but then he turned his attention back to the trap.

I appeared before him and sent another fist flying into his face. He fell backwards but was up a second later. It was fortunate because he grabbed the leg I had planned for his face but instead of throwing me aside, he jumped backwards, out of harm's way.

Okay, he was making me annoyed.

I charged after him, sending punch after punch, but he just kept on dodging it.

"Hit me back, dammit!"

Suddenly, he grabbed my wrists, interlocking them and flung me over him. I landed on my feet. He didn't hit me but this was progress.

I came after him again.

//

The snap of another trap setting off went through the air. Sasuke and I both watched as the squirming animal try to wrestle its way out. We were panting hard from our little fight, sitting just a short distance away from each other, our backs against a tree.

"They're probably wondering where we are right now," Sasuke said, breaking the silence.

"Yeah," I replied, still a bit breathless.

"We should get the game back to them."

"Yeah, we should."

After a short pause, he continued. "I was fine you know."

I turned my head to look at him. "No you weren't. I don't know what it is but there was something bothering you."

"And you thought the way to get it out was to beat it out of me?"

"I didn't know what to say to you. I'm ... I'm not good with things like that ... so I did what I knew."

"Well, it didn't work."

"Well, you didn't cooperate much. You didn't hit me back once."

He didn't answer. I looked at him, trying to search his face in the darkness.

"You ..." I started, sitting up. "You did that on purpose didn't you?"

There was no indication that my words were true except for a slight widening of his eyes. He opened his mouth to speak but I cut him off.

"Don't you dare lie to me, Sasuke. What's you deal?"

"Nothing. I didn't hit back because I wasn't in the mood. I'm tired and hungry and we really should be getting back."

He stood and I stood with him, pissed.

"Sasuke, I said don't lie to me-!"

"Do you remember what I told you that first time I carried you home after you had trained too hard?"

Shocked at the sudden change of subject, I frowned. I racked my brain to remember.

He undid the traps and faced me. "When I said you owed me."

"It ... it sounds vaguely familiar."

"Don't forget it."

"Why?"

"Just don't." He turned and started walking. "Come on, we should head back now."

I followed Sasuke back to the camp. My mind was in a jumble. On one side, I was very curious as to what had made Sasuke so upset. On the other side, I was just as curious as to what he was going to use my 'IOU' for.

The fire had already been made. They all sat around it, talking. As soon as we came out into the open, Kiba sprang up from his seat, Akamaru right behind him.

"What took you guys so long?" he demanded.

Sasuke walked right past him but I don't think Kiba mind much because his question was directed more at me. I didn't answer either. I just shrugged and followed the raven haired boy to the fire.

It took us about half an hour to finish eating and soon the only persons awake was me. Not by choice. Oh, no. Horo decided to punish both Sasuke and I for being late by letting us take watch and I was on the first shift.

I was situated on a high branch, overlooking the camp. I was bored out of my mind! So bored that I even started to whistle before Horo woke up and told me to pipe down.

"Mami," I called.

A second later, the cat appeared.

"Wassup?" she purred.

"I'm bored out of my mind."

"I can entertain just as well as I can fight, milady." She tucked her feet beneath her, lying down, her tail swishing from side to side.

"Yeah, well after today, I think I'm going to need someone to take my mind off things."

"They spooked you bad, huh?"

"You have no idea. Who would have thought those two would have trained so hard just to follow orders to get me back?"

"Well, with the boss they have, it isn't surprising."

"He won't stop sending persons after me until he gets me..."

"But we won't let that happen. I won't let that happen."

"Yeah well, me neither."

"You aren't scared anymore?"

"No no, I'm still completely terrified. But I'm not going to make that fear corner me. I'm not going down without a fight."

"Sounds like the Ten Tails is having a good influence on you."

"Call me Masuta," I responded, my voice taking on that of the Ten Tails. "The Ten Tails sounded too lengthy."

She was gone a second later. Mami's cat eyes blinked at me.

"Ahh ... well, okay. Masuta."

I chuckled. "I guess you could say her influence is strong. I remember a few weeks ago I was ready to save my life, even if it cost my new friend's. But ... now ... I have to protect them."

"Those filthy -"

"Those filthy humans are my friends, Mami. I can't believe I'm saying it either but it's the truth. I have to protect them." I stared down at them, my eyes running over each's sleeping face. "Their lives are in danger because I'm with them. I have to protect them, no matter the cost."

Mami didn't answer for a while. After a moment she swished her tail, looking down at them too. "You sure it's Masuta's influence?"

I tried to register her words when my eyes landed on Sasuke's. I had to admit that I was worried. I was worried for whatever that was bothering him.

Sighing, I looked away. Don't think about it. Don't worry.

I jumped down from the branch. I walked over to Sasuke and nudged him with my foot.

"Yo, Sasuke. Yo, wake up."

Sasuke's eyes popped open and he sat up.

"You're turn," I told him.

He sighed and got up. "Okay, I'll take over. Get some rest."

Sasuke walked by me, not saying another word. I watched him climb the tree and sit on the branch I had just occupied, a slight frown on my face. I did not understand that boy. But, oh well. Maybe after a good night's sleep I will open my eyes a bit.

EXAMS ARE FINALLY OVER! YAAAAY!

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