The Upside to Being a Creeper

SasKag Torn between two alternate paths, Sasuke faces a difficult choice. When Kagome runs into trouble he's the only one to notice, because he is always watching her.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, Naruto, or any of either's characters.

'thoughts' "dialogue"

He watched them all from a distance. She giggled at the fox's antics, a flush to her face and blue eyes sparkling. Her dark hair fluttered in the breeze as they sat beneath a huge tree on the outskirts of Konoha: her favorite picnic place. He frowned as the dog scooted closer to her, she was oblivious to her many suitors.

She grinned brilliantly in his direction then, catching his eyes for a moment, and his heart skipped a beat. He turned away slowly, when did this happen? How long had it been? He had never been interested in a girl before, they were beneath him. She was so distracting! He had plans, goals to reach, people to kill. And yet…every time she directed that beautiful smile at him his mind wandered down other paths. Domestic and dangerous paths. Of an alternate future, a choice he never thought he had.

His thoughts turned dark as he attempted to focus himself on his ultimate goal. He needed more power. Power enough to get his revenge, enough to protect Kagome from Orochimaru, to rebuild his clan with her.

'Damn.'

He shook his head as her face invaded his mind again.

He had been walking aimlessly for hours now, the stars above judged him for his lack of action. He should tell her. Should. But couldn't.

Kagome smiled to herself, surrounded by friends in her favorite spot, she was more than content. Sasuke had even agreed to tag along, as a scout of course, since he always kept his distance. But more and more she was noticing that his eyes never left her. It made her anxious. She loved him, his playful teasing of Naruto, grouchy indifference, and a hidden gentleness she wasn't sure anyone else had noticed. He was so strong to hide the pain of his past so well. Her miko instincts screamed at her to help him, to relieve his suffering, but she didn't know how.

When she had arrived in Konoha, battered and bloodied from her desperate escape, he had been the one to find her. Orochimaru had discovered her miko abilities in a poor village in the sand nation and bought her for his experiments. One tortuous year later and she had found the opening she needed, but not without great cost to herself. She had collapsed in the forest on the outskirts of town, beneath the same tree she sat under now, unable to go on.

Sasuke was the one who found her while he was on patrol. He had been so gentle with her, a complete stranger. He had a kind soul, she just knew it. She wondered briefly if he was still suspicious of her origins, if that was why he watched her so carefully.

*Flashback*

Large blue eyes blinked up at him starkly contrasting from the pool of red forming under her. She had a large gash across one thigh and another over her hip. She was covered in bruises, shallower scratches, her ankle looked broken.

She smiled up at him and he frowned, puzzled.

'Who would smile through injuries like these?'

She lifted one dainty hand toward him, silently asking for help, and deflated when he didn't take it. "Please?" she begged softly.

Everything about her was suspicious, he had a million questions, but he found himself moving forward. He gathered her in his arms with the utmost of care and sped toward the hospital.

She smiled again gratefully before she lost consciousness and his heart skipped a beat. She had hooked him with no effort at all.

*End Flashback*