A Rose By Any Other Name (A Sasuke Uchiha Story)

Chapter 34.

"Just stop already!"

Immediately Mei did just that, albeit out of instinct as she snapped out of the trance she'd been in for the last ten minutes or so. To begin with she wasn't sure what to do—whether to simply dodge around him and keeping going, or to stay where she was and see what Sasuke had to say. But she didn't seem to have a choice, as her body had a mind of its own, jumping down from the tree she'd been on to stand on the ground below, and the moment her feet touched the ground she gave in. She'd known Sasuke was coming after her, and it was only natural this would be his reaction. Mei could keep on dodging round him and continuing on towards the valley, but in turn Sasuke would keep on following her and try to get her stop. The only way to get around this problem was to face him; though Mei wasn't quite sure she wanted to. With the way she had just turned and run away from him, and with how her mind had been so tumultuous—along with the way she was feeling...there was no telling how this conversation would go. But Mei knew she would have to face Sasuke some time, and clearly this was it, feeling her body tense, her heartbeat rising as if she was about to go into battle. She trusted Sasuke, and knew there was no danger here, and yet automatically Mei reacted like that—but with everything that had been running through her head while she'd been travelling, it was to be expected.

Sasuke didn't even hesitate in following her to the forest floor, standing in front of her and feeling strangely calm. He wasn't angry with Mei, true, but a part of him, while he had been following her, had wanted to find her and shake some sense into her. To yell at her not out of fury, but frustration at her sudden decision—her silence when it came down to her thoughts and feelings. Yet now he was here, that frustration had all but disappeared. When Sasuke had caught up with her he had seen she wasn't right, and appearing in front of her he had seen Mei was almost in a trance; paying attention only to the thoughts in her head. The rest of the world hadn't mattered, until he had snapped her out of it. Even now it was obvious Mei wasn't in her normal calm and focused state of mind. She had backed up against a tree, her muscles tensed and her eyes narrowed as she looked at Sasuke. As if she wasn't sure what would happen, and was ready to leave at the slightest hint that she didn't like. It was seeing how Mei was that made Sasuke pause and remember the confusion he'd seen in her eyes. She was having as much trouble dealing with this as he was. Plus, Sasuke did genuinely care about her. He wanted her to be okay.

As such, he kept his distance for the moment, not trying to crowd her, and waited a moment for he began quietly,

"Mei—don't do this. At least not without telling me what's made you change your mind; made you feel like this. I know you well enough to understand that this wasn't spontaneous. You've been thinking about the circumstances for several days now and this was the result of it all building up. I just don't understand why—it's not like you to run. Especially without any warning or word of explanation."

Clenching her fists at the idea he was accusing her of running away, Mei's expression fell into a glare as she growled lowly,

"That's right; it has been building up. It's my decision, and I made it. So I don't know why you're even following me to try and make it otherwise."

"I would have done it even if you had completely made up your mind and were certain of everything—even if it was to just understand why. But I'm definitely going to follow you when I know you're not certain. When I know you don't understand your decision—that you're just as confused as I am. That was obvious when you left; I saw it in your eyes," Sasuke shot back, trying to make Mei see that he wasn't accusing her of anything. That he just wanted her to explain. But it was clear she wasn't in the mood, as he noticed her body tense even more, a scowl joining in with her glare as she spat,

"That's a little unusual for you—you've left plenty of people behind not caring what happens to them or how they might feel, so why the sudden change?"

Those words, however, made Sasuke halt, unsure how to respond to begin with. A flash of anger appeared within him, at the idea Mei was bringing up the past in this way, but a moment later and it faded. Though Mei didn't appear to want to explain anything to him, with that statement she had given Sasuke a clue as to what was affecting her. Was that it? They'd spoken about his past in Konoha, and he'd told her how he had left, not saying goodbye to anyone. Had that caught her out? Did she actually think he'd turn his back on her, after all that had happened? Sasuke's frustration returned, and all he could do was stare at Mei, having no idea why she would even consider it a possibility. It was only when he tried to come up with an explanation that it finally occurred to Sasuke. Mei had experienced that first hand. When he had left Konoha he had betrayed the village, becoming a rogue ninja. But Uragiri had betrayed her when she was younger; she had cared about him, worked with him, and then he turned around and killed everyone she loved. He had turned his back on her, not giving a shit about her feelings. But at that realization, Sasuke felt something he hadn't in a while: sadness. At the idea that Mei could think he'd be like Uragiri. That he'd hurt her like that. It meant his voice was barely louder than a whisper as he finally replied,

"Is that what you think? You really believe I'd betray you? Turn my back on you?"

Seeing the look in his eyes, however, and Mei couldn't stop herself from releasing some of the tension within her body. She didn't want to hurt Sasuke—to make him feel like this. But she couldn't stop the doubts in her mind, causing her to respond softly,

"I trust you, Sasuke. I do. I know you wouldn't try to hurt me. But when you told me what you did...how you hadn't hesitated in the slightest to leave the village that had been your home...I knew you had the capacity to do it."

"I did that to get power to kill my brother!" Sasuke burst out, unable to keep it in anymore, continuing, "I know what it's like to be betrayed, Mei, you know I do! To have someone you care about kill those you love! So why in the hell would you ever think I'd do the same to you? You're the one I care about!"

Taken back at his outburst, Mei wasn't certain how to react, and so stood there, her glare gone, instead her eyes narrowed in shock at what Sasuke was saying. She hadn't thought he'd exactly be happy at her doubts, but to have him react like that...it stunned her. Not to mention, seeing the emotion on his face and in his eyes—emotion that rarely, if ever, appeared—and her determination to go back to the valley faltered. Knowing somebody cared about you was one thing, but seeing it like this was another thing entirely. Her gaze dropping down to the floor, Mei tried to come up with a response, but nothing came to mind, allowing Sasuke to let his emotions to dissipate, and take the first step to speak once more,

"If that's what caused you to do this, Mei, then don't think on it. Because there is nothing that would make me want to hurt you. I want you to come with me while I train and look for Itachi. To be able to travel with you, not just cooped up in the dojo, but being out in the world with you."

"And what? Make myself look like an idiot?" Mei abruptly snapped, and narrowing his eyes in confusion, Sasuke contemplated what she'd said. Why would she think that? What exactly would make her feel like that? Questions that made Sasuke reply,

"What do you mean, Mei? Just tell me. You didn't give the slightest explanation when you left back then, and you never told me any of what you were thinking—what was causing your doubts, like how I had left Konoha. But if you just. Tell me. Then I can help you understand. I can help you—so stop sitting there in silence!"

For a moment Mei did nothing in return, the silence continuing and enveloping the forest as Sasuke wondered whether he would ever be able to get an explanation out of her. But as Mei lifted her head to face Sasuke, her expression more placid than before, he got the feeling she was finally going to talk to him. Even if it came out how it did before, he had discovered some of what had been bothering her. If he was lucky, Mei might even give him a full on explanation.

But at least they were getting somewhere.