IK YOU ALL ARE GOING TO LOVE THIS CHAPTER ^_^ I CAN FEEL IT XD

So Sasuke just laid down and was staring up at the stars. I laid down to staring up at them.

"So why are you star gazing?" I asked.

"Don't know,"

"You seem more depressed as each day passes. Is there a reason?"

"Yes but I'm not telling you."

"Fine whatever I respect your privacy if you respect mine. I'm just trying to figure you out." I said.

"Why?"

"I don't know, I love figuring people out."

"Have you figured me out?"

"Yeah, it was hard but I did."

"What did you figure out about me?"

"I know that you suffered a lot in your life, you don't like to let people in, you're power obsessed, I think that you're depressed about something, you're defiantly not Karin's boyfriend."

He raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Yeah Karin said that you were going out so I just played along with it. I can tell that you aren't because you ignore her and stuff."

"Typical fan girl," He sighed.

"I can tell she's not the first?"

"Nope, spent all my life running from them."

"Hehe I'm getting him to talk," I thought. "He's just like Itachi!"

"Sounds pre-tty innnnterrrrresssstinnnng,"

"Not really, it's annoying."

"Do you find me annoying?"

"No, you're not a fan girl."

"Thank you saying I'm not a fan girl, I hate them with a passion."

"Then we have something in common." He sighed.

It felt like we were dating again, just having a calm conversation gazing at the stars.

"Yeah I guess,"

"Hey, I thought you hated me." He said.

"Yeah I do but that doesn't mean that I still can't be nice sometimes right?"

"I guess, so why did that person who abuses you give you a bracelet?"

"You know, that's a really good question." I said.

"Can't you just kill the person?"

"No, he's stronger than me and will either kill me or my village."

"Why would you care about your old village if you left it?"

"I was forced to leave."

"If you could....would you go back?"

"Yes, in a heartbeat..............Would you?" I said turning my head to look at him.

It was nice to talk to him again. I already knew he was going to say no but it would be nice to be surprised.

"There's nothing for me there anymore,"

"Didn't you have friends?"

"I did but I severed those bonds,"

"What about a girlfr- you know what that's a stupid question, of course you didn't have a girlfriend."

It was silent for awhile so I assumed Sasuke was now sleeping. I started to play with the necklace and glancing at Sasuke which made my heart do summersaults.

"I can tell you're staring at me," He said which made me jump.

"I thought you were asleep so I was making sure."

"Why? Do you do something while we're sleeping?"

"Kinda, I just go through my bag."

"Why don't you want us going through it?"

"It's personal, I don't want anyone going through it until I'm ready; until............I trust you."

I saw him tense a little.

"Trust........that's the same thing that Mariah said." He thought.

Haha I don't have the courage to flat out tell him but I'll give him clues. I know that Sasuke isn't stupid so he can put two and two together. I sighed and started to relax.

"I love the spring; it's so nice and warm." I said.

"Hn, I guess."

"So when I was sleeping, did I talk?"

"You said some things.........."

"Shit, what did I say?"

"Something about loving someone and they love you back then something about sadness and being tortured."

"That's all you heard?"

"Yes,"

"Okay good, I thought you heard more. That would've been really bad."

"And why's that?"

"No reason,"

(Sasuke's POV)

This girl is too much like Mariah and it's pissing me off. I have to know if it's really her or not. Part of me is hoping that she is but part of me hopes she isn't. What if she hates me? Will she forgive me? Those questions kept going through my head.

"It can't be her, she wasn't breathing. Even if she was still alive from that hit she would've died from blood loss. She would've went back to the village anyway. Plus if this was her then she would have Kurayami with her. Kaku looks very different from Mariah anyway. Mariah has black hair with red and blue highlights, Kaku has silver hair. Mariah has a red eye and a purple with blue stripes eye, Kaku has blue eyes. Mariah's voice was calm, Kaku's voice is cold. But they both don't trust people easily, they don't like being questioned, they like star gazing, they like spring."

This was killing me, I have to know if it's really her or not. I need to test her on something that only Mariah would know.

"Why did you hate Orochimaru?" I asked.

"He...experimented on me." She answered.

I chuckled, it has to be her.

"When did he experiment on you?"

"I'm not telling you,"

"Whatever, I was just curious."

"Well curiosity killed the cat."

I studied her expression and noticed that through this whole conversation she hasn't blinked. I yawned and decided that since this conversation wasn't getting anywhere so I went to sleep.

"Tomorrow," I thought sadly then letting darkness consume my subconscious.

(Mariah's POV)

So the next morning everyone was up and we started to travel again. Just traveling is very boring, walking and doing nothing. Sasuke is super boring when he's around these people he doesn't even talk.  I was behind them all; then Suigetsu came next to me.

"Something wrong Kaku-chan?" He asked.

"No, I'm fine just bored is all." I replied.

"And that today is my birthday," I thought.

I looked up at the sky and saw a crow circling above me which only meant one thing. Itachi wants to see me. I looked at Sasuke.

"I'll be back," I said to them.

Before they could reply I was already gone. I followed the crow and when we far enough from Hebi I saw Itachi. I approached him and when he noticed me he smiled.

"Mariah," He greeted.

"Itachi," I nodded.

He stepped closer to me then he was gone, I felt something being placed on my neck.

"Happy Birthday Mariah," He said reappearing in front of me.

I looked down and saw that his necklace was around my neck. I looked up at him and saw some sadness in his eyes.

"Itachi,"

"Mariah, it's almost time."

My heart stopped. I knew he would die soon but I wasn't expecting it to hurt so much. Even though Itachi and I haven't talked much, I was still attached to him. He was always there for me during the first few months of being in the Akatsuki teaching me how to live my new life.

"WHAT?! NO IT CAN'T BE SO SOON!" I cried wrapping my arms around his neck.

He was much taller than me but I managed to stand on the tips of my toes.

"This might be the last time I see you so I thought this would be the best time to give this to you."

"But Itachi, it's your necklace."

"No, it's your necklace now. I want you to have it so you can remember me when I'm gone."

I started to sob on his shoulder holding him tighter not wanting to let go.

"I don't want you do die Itachi, you're the only person that I have left. I don't want to lose you Itachi. I know it sounds weird but you're like a brother to me." I cried.

He rubbed my back in a comforting way.

"It's okay Mariah, you knew that this was coming." He tried to reassure me.

"I didn't know it would happen so soon!"

"You'll be okay, you have Sasuke back and you still have the leaf village."

"Itachi, Sasuke hates me."

"No he doesn't Mariah. You and I both know that he still loves you."

"Liar, you're just trying to cheer me up. Itachi you can't die."

"I have to do this, remember when you asked me what I was hiding?"

"Yes,"

"It's time to show you but when I show you, don't tell a soul. Not even Sasuke."

I nodded. I looked into his Sharingan and saw everything that he did. The ANBU, Danzo, the elders, the Hokage. The mission, the pain, regret, sorrow, sadness, betrayal. All of this pain that he endured for all these years. When he was done I looked up at him.

"Itachi, you've been through so much." I whispered.

"Mariah, please take care of my brother. Make sure that he is happy and love him no matter what." He said.

He gently pushed me away holding my shoulders. He could see my saddened expression and the tears falling down my face making a single fall from his eye. He then kissed my forehead and disappeared.

"Goodbye Itachi," I said sadly.

I slowly walked back to the group to see them staring at me. They watched my every movement and examined me for any cuts or bruises. I didn't make eye contact with any of them; I was too sad that Itachi was going to die soon, I know it probably won't be for a while but that was the last time I'd see him.

"Kaku-chan, are you alright?" Suigetsu asked.

"Peachy," I replied.

"Hmph Suigetsu just leave her alone." Karin said getting ready to hit him.

Before her fist collided with Suigetsu's head I grabbed her fist and glared at her. Her face went white in fear. I'm sick of her hitting Suigetsu just because she finds him annoying.

"Do. Not. Hit. Him." I warned.

"W-w-what? S-scared I-I'll hurt your b-boyfriend?"

"He's not my boyfriend and you keep abusing him. I hate it when someone smacks someone for no reason."

She backed away to Sasuke's side. Sasuke had a concerned look but then looked straight ahead with a blank expression. For the rest of the trip we were all silent. For once Sasuke was nice enough for us to stay at a nice hotel with hot springs. No one had money so I was nice enough to pay for everyone and for the food.

We checked in and we all got changed. I went straight into the water while Karin was uh trying to show off her body to the boys, well mostly Sasuke. I was glad that I was in the water before her because then she would see my scars. That would be very bad if she saw them. The nice hot water stung my cut at first but them it started to help it. Karin finally got into the water and looked pissed.

"Well someone looks pissed." I muttered.

She glared at me then I saw envy in her eyes. I looked at her with a confused look but then I saw where she was looking. She was looking at my chest probably jealous of the size of them but that's the way God made them. I chuckled at her stupid envyness.

"I don't like you," She said.

"The feeling is mutual princess."

"STOP CALLING ME THAT!"

"Sorry, can't."

"You know I had Sasuke-kun all to myself until you came into the picture!"

"Whatever girly like I told you before, I hate Uchiha." I said getting up.

She gasped as her eyes scanned her body.

"Y-your body!"

"Yeah yeah the scars I know," I said waving her off.

"What happened?"

"Training and getting in the way of a cross fire between two idiots."

"Those holes and your hand; you have so many scars and burns."

"Yeah I know, well I'm going."

I wrapped a towel over me which was small and tight so it barely covered me. As I walked to the changing rooms I saw the boys walking towards me. When they noticed me their eyes scanned my body eying all the scars and mostly my chest which made them blush. Sasuke on the other hand stared at my hands. My left hand showed burn marks while my right had a swirl as a scar because of Naruto's Rasengan. I quickly passed them then I put on a nice Kimono once in the changing room and went into the hotel room. When the food came I set it all on the table and the others came in and sat down.

"WOW KAKU-CHAN! HOW MUCH WAS ALL OF THIS?" Suigetsu asked.

"Um a lot but don't worry about it."

They started to eat the food and I ate also.

"Juugo can you pass the salt?" I asked.

He reached for the salt and started to hand it to my left hand. I grabbed it but as I retreated my arm back I dropped it.

"Damn it, not again." I mumbled.

"Kaku-chan, what's wrong with your hand?" Suigetsu asked.

"Nothing, just something that happened when I was a kid. I haven't fully recovered; my nerves are shot so I can't function my left hand well."

Sasuke saw my left hand and his eyes widened. After a while I was lying on the floor staring at the ceiling like it was the most interesting in the world. I noticed Sasuke staring at me so I stared back. None of us blinked and soon it turned into a glaring contest. The others were looking from Sasuke to me then back at Sasuke.

"Kaku," He started.

"Yes Uchiha?" I growled.

"Fight me,"

That peaked my interest.

"Fine, it's better than a stupid glaring contest." I said getting up.

We walked to a remote area and got into fighting positions. The sun was slowly setting as Sasuke lunged at me with his sword. I got out mine and blocked his attack. We pushed our blades together neither one of us giving in. I jumped over him and went for a kick but he grabbed my leg.

He threw me across the field so I did a flip then landed on my feet. He appeared behind me so I kicked his side which sent him flying. When he landed I felt someone grab me from behind. I looked over my shoulder to see a clone, Sasuke charged up Chidori and charged towards me. I couldn't dodge so Chidori went through my stomach.

He smirked but then I went poof, it was only a clone. I came up from the ground and grabbed his foot and threw him into a few trees. He then sent electricity from his hand to me but I charged my sword with electricity and blocked the attack. He made some hand signs which a recognized.

"Fire style: Fire ball jutsu!" He shouted as fire came at me.

"Fire style: Fire wall!" I shouted.

A wall of fire formed around me which blocked the fire ball.

"Nice try Uchiha." I said.

I then turned around and saw him getting ready to punch me. I blocked the punch and went for a kick. It went kick punch block repeat for a while so I jumped and brought my foot down on his head. His body collided with the ground. When he got up his Sharingan was activated.

He was done warming up. He disappeared only to kick my side which sent me to one of his clones. He was wielding a kunai which I barely dodged earning a scratch on the side of my body.

"This is getting exciting," I said.

I made some hand signs and held my arm in the air.

"Lightning style: Lightning storm!" I shouted.

Lightning then came down from the sky and started coming down near Sasuke. He dodged every single bolt as expected so I came and tried to stab him but he blocked it with a kunai. With his free hand he stabbed me with another kunai in the arm. I jumped back and he swung at me with his sword. When his sword hit mine the force broke my sword in half. I jumped over him but when I landed I felt something wrap around me. I looked to see a white snake wrapping around my body and Sasuke coming at me with Chidori.

Before he reached me I activated my shield which pushed him back. I wiggled my hand free and summoned my special sword and used it to cut the snake in half. When I saw free I held back the sword and sent it towards Sasuke.

"So she is Mariah," Sasuke thought.

The sword managed to cut his cheek. He started to move faster and faster so since he already knew it was me I activated my Sharingan. I could see every movement that he made. I made more hand signs.

"Water style: Water shark bomb jutsu!" I shouted.

A giant water shark them came from the ground and attacked Sasuke. He was pushed against a tree getting cuts and bruises in the process. I activated my Renningan and pushed him further away causing him to go through trees. When he had enough I appeared in front of him and pressed a kunai to his neck. I made my eyes normal again and they were normal; my natural eye color.

"Looks like I win Sasuke," I said with a smirk.

He looked into my eyes and I looked into his. I saw so many emotions flash in his eyes as do mine. He lifted his arm and cupped my cheek then brushed a few stray hairs behind my ear. My skin tingled to his touch sending shivers down my spine. I looked at his lips wanting to give into temptation and kiss him, but already beat me to it.

His lips were warm and soft like always. My adrenaline started pumping and my heart was beating a mile a minute then I finally closed my eyes and deepened the kiss. My heart was doing back flips, my mind was racing; I felt the spark that I haven't felt in years. I longed for him to kiss me again. I dropped my kunai and wrapped my arms around his neck as he wrapped his arms around my waist.

I missed him so much and thought this day would never come but here it is. I was so happy but I remembered how we left things. We parted and my eyes widened. I didn't know what came over me; I let my instincts take over. He seemed as shocked as me; I bit my lip in frustration. I unwrapped my arms around his neck and took a few steps backwards. I couldn't stop staring at his confused face. He reached back out to grab me but I stepped back again.

"Mariah," He started.

I stormed off back towards the others with my head still spinning and still imagining the kiss. I couldn't do this again; I can't go through this pain.