Suigestu didn't exactly fear death, not like everyone else, anyways. He saw death as something smaller than him, something he could overcome. He never thought about an afterlife, or what would happen if he left everyone behind.

So when Juugo brought it up, he answered exactly what he thought.

"Death can happen to anyone. Whether immortal or not", Juugo realised after the sealing of Kaguya that death doesn't necessarily mean someone loosing consciousness. It could be the loss of anything. The death of a person could be the death of their emotions... making them vulnerable to numbness. It could also mean having all aspects of what makes life taken away from you, like what happened to Kaguya.

"That's funny to hear", Karin told him, flipping the page of her book. Suigestu tapped the tip of his sword, feeling the sharp end pierce his skin. He scowled.

"I want a new sword."

Karin scoffed, "You always want a new sword. Tone it down a notch with the killing, will ya?"

"I hurt the bad guys, if anything I should keep doing what I'm doing."

Sasuke sighed, "I agree with Karin, tone it down."

Suigestu felt defeated, but then he perked up again, for it was an opening to mess with Karin. "Oh? So you've defending her now? I wonder what has gone on between the two of you-"

Not surprisingly, he got punched in the face by Karin.

"Don't be so stupid!", she told Suigestu, who glared at her in return. "Anyways, what kind of sword are you looking for now?"

It was not unusual for Suigetsu to search for other swords. His ambition to get the Seven Ninja Swords of The Mist had never really been accomplished, so he always collected new swords that intrigued him, no matter where they were from or who possessed it earlier. Karin believed that his obsession with gaining new swords stemmed from his failed ambition. Therefore, she had never questionned it.

"There's a sword out there that uses air slices."

"Where is it, exactly?", Juugo asked his teammate. Like Karin, he had become used to Suigetsu's sword craving.

"Someone in a tiny clan has it. But they're very mysterious, it's creepy."

Sasuke blinked, "How?"

Suigestu pulled out his sword and swerved it to the right, it made a swooshing sound. "Hm.. they never show their faces to outsiders, and no one has really visited their homes before. No one even knows what type of kekkei genkai they have."

"That's so creepy." Karin shivered in mock and Suigestu glared at her. "You know where they live?"

He shrugged, "Yes and no... they move around a lot. From the information I got, they're near the borders of the Land of Iron. I'm heading out to go meet them today."

Sasuke did not want to know how Suigetsu even obtained the information. The man could be very sneaky and intelligent when he wanted to.

"And what are you going to do when you meet them?"

"That's a stupid question, Sasuke." Suigetsu smirked, placing his own sword back in his holster. "I'm gonna get my sword, of course."

Karin rolled her eyes at the fact that he was already calling the sword his.

Sasuke sighed at his teammate. Of course, Suigetsu was smart at obtaining information, but when it came to mission strategies, Suigetsu fell short. It seemed all he wanted to do was swish his big sword around and chop people up till he got what he wanted.

"That's a sloppy strategy. Karin, Juugo, let's get going. We'll think of a better plan on route."

Karin grumbled, "Do I have to?" while Juugo stood up and put on his cloak.

Suigetsu grinned, despite the fact he wanted to kill Sasuke for taking over his mission. Team Taka was going on a mission once again, and it made blood rush through his arteries, giving him a newfound energy.

So they set off for an unpredictable journey with not a single plan at hand. But that was just how it was when you lived with a man like Suigestu.

::

"If the information Suigestu told us is correct, then that means the clan will be in the Land Of Iron for a week, considering the time it takes to leave the Land of iron and the emigration laws. Therefore, we have enough time to get the damn sword."

"No people should be harmed carelessly. We only have one goal, and that does not involve slaughter." Sasuke told his teammate and Suigestu grumbled something inaudible about Sasuke's face.

Karin nodded in agreement and then punched Suigestu. She had heard what he said about Sasuke's face.

Karin was especially annoyed.

Whenever she'd try to get close to Sasuke, Suigestu would come between them and start telling weird stories, and she knew he was doing so on purpose.

Karin couldn't count the number of times she'd punched him.

"I'm tired." Karin complained. "Let's rest."

Juugo nodded in agreement, "It is getting late."

The sun was threatening to leave, making the sky a deep orange. Juugo arched his neck, allowing the hues to hit his skin.

"Hn, we'll continue travelling by dawn." Sasuke agreed.

All but Suigetsu came to a halt.

"How lazy can you guys be?" He mumbled. They had heard him, though.

"Suigestu, don't forget that we don't have to accompany you on this journey", Juugo told him.

"We're doing you a favour, not following your command", Sasuke added.

"If you treat us badly then we'll throw you in a fucking river and you'll do this shit on your own." Karin glared at the purple haired man.

He forgot that his teammates were not nice people.

"Fine fine. I won't complain."

Friends. What you gonna do without them? He rolled his eyes and fell on the grass, falling asleep instantly. Juugo was counting the stars.

Karin laid her head on the grass, taking off her glasses. She turned her head to the side, and surprisingly, Sasuke was laid right next to her.

"A-ah! Sasuke! You scared me."

He didn't say a thing, his poker face was still intact as he stared at her. And she found herself staring back.

What would Sasuke do if I kissed him right now? She shook the thought away, making sounds of embarrassment. Hold yourself together Karin!

Sasuke watched her have an internal battle with herself, slightly amused. Upon noticing that she

"Say, Sasuke kun," Karin's cheeks were a rosy tint, "what is your favourite thing in the world?"

"Don't have one."

She puffed her cheeks out, "What? That's a lie! You must have something you like doing, or someone you like..."

Sasuke stared at Karin as she looked down. His face showed no emotion as he studied her.

Red.

"My brother. I liked being with my brother."

She looked up, eyes softening. He stared at the moon with the same poker face he always wore. Sometimes Karin wanted to wipe away the straight face and draw a smile on him...but that was impossible. She sighed.

What could make Sasuke smile?

"Sasuke, you know, when you lose someone, they say you have to let go... that's true to an extent but... you don't necessarily have to cut all ties with them."

"I never cut ties with Itachi", Sasuke's brows lowered.

"When was the last time you spoke to him?"

"He's dead."

Karin chuckled and shook her head, "Death doesn't mean he's gone. Whether it's in your heart, or high up in the sky, your brother is still there. I'm sure if you spoke to him, he'd hear you."

She ended her short speech with a smile, and Sasuke couldn't help but stare at the curve of her lips, the shape of her eyes, the shine in her hair. He found her beautiful.

He didn't say anything and looked up at the sky. Without saying, anyone could tell he missed his big brother, but it didn't hurt as much as it used to, like a distant memory he held. Karin told him he should try talking to his brother, and although it would make him look crazy, it would also fill a bit of the hole in his dark heart.

"I'll try", he told her, and she perked up.

"Yay! Goodnight Sasuke", with that she was out faster than Tsunade after some bottles of sake.

He smiled lightly. The team he created, he never thought he'd be close to them as he is now.

::

Edited : 24/7/19