Dark Eyes:

Tsukiko's scream shattered the night. She thrashed until she fell out of bed and scrambled to throw her clothes on. She staggered out of the room, her ragged gasps cut through the silence that filled the house. 'It was just a dream' She gripped her head leaned against the wall, 'it's always just a dream.' Anguish filled Tsukiko's heart. She was afraid to move, she felt as though she would be physically ill. 'Just… a dream.

"Tsukiko?" Sasuke stumbled out of the bedroom, trying to rub the sleep out of his eyes. "What's wrong? Are you having a nightmare again?" He reached out for Tsukiko and frowned whens she flinched and turned away. "Hey, it's okay. Do you want some tea? Why don't you go back to bed and I'll make you some tea? It'll help calm your nerves."

Tsukiko shook her head, "I'm fine, Sasuke. Go back to bed. I need some time alone right now."

Sasuke didn't try to stop her, he simply watched as she fled downstairs. He heard a window open and shut, 'she must be on the roof again.' The thought of Tsukiko in pain gave him physical pain, but he knew better than to go after her. Slowly, Sasuke retreated into his bedroom and crawled back into bed. He could feel where Tsukiko had been asleep only moments before. The sheets were soaked with sweat; he could feel her fear that still lingered in the air. 'What do you dream about, Tsukiko? Why do you wake up every morning with fear in your eyes?' He would ask her, one day. For now, though, he would just have to wait until she returned to his side. 'Please don't be long.'

:::

Tsukiko sat on the roof and gazed silently at the stars. The cold autumn wind wrapped it's hands around her and coaxed her back to reality. 'These dreams…' she wrapped her arms around her knees and hugged herself, 'eventually the demons of my dreams will become reality.' It was almost a comforting thought. 'Soon enough, everyone will learn I am not to be trusted. And then I'll leave with Orochimaru and never have to look at this village again. It will just be me, myself, and I. No others. No more having to try to care. No more useless feelings.' The pain in her chest throbbed. Tsukiko absently rubbed at her chest, willing the feeling to go away. Before this mission, before coming back to this hell, she didn't bother with feelings. She learned how to block everything out besides the will to survive. "Feelings make you weak." She snarled to the wind, which howled back in response. 'There was a time, before, when I felt…' Tsukiko shuddered at the memories. She had been young and foolish then. She had been deceived and had paid with her heart. 'Orochimaru was the one that took me in when no one wanted me… He made me into the strong shinobi I am today. Not… Not Itachi.' Tsukiko's heart ached. The bitter memories of running with Itachi, of devoting herself to him, of loving him, swam in her mind. A bitter laugh escaped Tsukiko as she shook her head to clear the memories. The evil and bitterness in her tone was shocking. 'Am I evil?' She brushed away the makeup that covered the summoning tattoo on he arm. The black lines were startlingly clear in the moonlight. All she had to do was run a little blood over the mark, add a little chakara, and she had a massive snake at her disposal. 'Evil or not, it doesn't really matter. All of this will be over in a few days.'

:::

After making sure she had her emotions under lock Tsukiko snuck back in through the bathroom window. She made sure to reapply makeup to her arm before she made her way to Sasuke's bedroom door. Her hand lingered for a moment on the door handle, a feeling of longing swept over her, 'if only I could stay… to live the life of a normal….' Her hand jerked away before she dared to think anything more. 'Normal is weak. Normal is useless.' She reprimanded herself mentally before entering Sasuke's room. The boy was curled up in the middle of the bed; his hair was tussled and hid his eyes. She watched him sleep for a moment, she eyed his chest and the way it rose and fell in a steady rhythm, his hand and the way it twitched every now and then, how he looked so innocent, the way he lay completely sprawled on the bed as if nothing could hurt him. 'When I go… please, just let me go.' Tsukiko bit her lip and shook her head. She knew that Sasuke was going to try to come after her…. Or worse, leave with her. As she slipped into bed next to Sasuke she wove her arm under his and around his waist. Tsukiko relished in the heat that the boy gave off, how strong he felt, even as he slept. "Please… Just let me go."

:::

When Tsukiko awoke she was alone. The angle of the sun coming in through the shades indicated that it was early afternoon. 'So much for it being a productive day…' She sighed and shrugged out of bed. Really, the only thing on her agenda of any importance was showing Jiraiya her Rasengan, and that could be done at any point of the day. Although she tried to relax under the water of a hot shower, nothing seemed to help the cold feeling that had seized her body. After finally giving up on warming up Tsukiko dried and dressed her body before heading over to the river.

:::

Tsukiko found Jiraiya and Naruto training as usual. She couldn't help but notice how the 9-Tail's Host was progressing quite nicely. 'Oh… What potential you have…' She thought to herself, a deep, dark hunger licked at her insides. She waved at Jiraiya when he noticed her, she ignored his pervy leer and wicked smirk.

"Did you do it yet?" He asked as he stood.

Naruto was in the middle of a focusing exercise, and couldn't say hi right away. He managed a wave and a grunt and then a series of flailing arm circles as he tried to regain his balance on the water.

Tsukiko smugly shrugged and walked over to Jiraiya, "A-Ranked, huh?" she yawned dramatically, "I'll admit, it was a little more challenging than others… but, eh, it certainly wasn't anything to break a sweat over."

Jiraiya swatted at Tsukiko but she leapt out of the way at the last moment. 'She's quick' "You talk big, but how about prove it to me."

Tsukiko held her hand out casually and cocked her head towards her open palm. "Watch, and be amazed."

She couldn't help but enjoy the rush of energy that came along with this jutsu. She focused, harder and harder, as the blue ball of chakara spun into a tighter ball. "Enough." Tsukiko announced, she jumped backwards and launched herself off of a nearby tree and into the tree just past Jiraiya. Her attack drilled a large hole through the middle of the tree until it cracked and splintered from the force.

Naruto was so stunned that he lost focus and collapsed into the water beneath him.

Jiraiya stood there, momentarily stunned. 'You are not from around here.' He thought to himself, a dark shadow hovered over his heart. "Very nice, Tsukiko. I wish all of my students made it look as easy as you."

Naruto scrambled out of the water and ran to Tsukiko. 'SHE'S AMAZING!" His mind was exploding with confidence and excitement. He could hardly contain the energy that was surging through his body. "WOW, TUSKIKO! THAT WA SO COOL! CAN YOU TEACH ME HOW TO DO THAT?! THE PERVY SAGE ISN'T TEACHING ME ANYTHING COOL LIKE THAT!" Naruto leapt around Tsukiko, praying that she would accept him as his pupil.

Tsukiko placed both hands on Naruto's shoulders and gently stopped him from bouncing all over the place. She could feel how wild his chakara was, how it itched and yearned to be freed. "No, Naru-kun… but I'm sure your sensei here will when the time is right." She winked at Jiraiya whom rolled his eyes at her in return.

"Naruto, get back to work!" Jiraiya snapped. He watched Naruto scramble to his feet and then bolt back to practice on the water. He turned to face Tsukiko who was making her way back towards town. "Hey," he called out, "I know you from somewhere, don't I?" He watched as Tsukiko slowly turned around, the look on her face unnerved him.

"Well… I suppose it depends on when you last saw me."

Jiraiya glared suspiciously at Tsukiko, "and what exactly does that mean?"

"Ah, nothing," Tsukiko gritted her teeth as she tried to force a smile, "goodbye for now, Master Jiraiya."

Jiraiya watched as the young kunoichi disappeared from his line of vision. 'I know I've seen her before…' A sense of unease hovered over him. He settled himself in the shade and began to sift through his memories, trying to find the girl with the dark eyes and the cold smile.