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"Do you still have them sometimes?" I asked timidly, staring straight back into his eyes that were trying to prevent those memories from resurfacing. I wanted to do my best to completely avoid him having to think back to that day, but I guess my question wasn't as well worded as I had hoped. Before I knew what I was doing, my eyes had unconsiously broken from his stare and were now staring at his collarbone being revealed by that shirt of his. My fingers had also gone into a position that I had seen Hinata in so many times when she was nervous. Darn it, what's wrong with me? Why am I clamming up on him all of a sudden?

Is that it? But I've already tried that. It doesn't work for me. Maybe just telling him will help. Even if just a little. "Um, Sasuke, can I trust you with something that has been bothering me for as long as I can remember? Something that has been happening to me since even before we meet at the academy?" Biting my lower lip was adding to my fidgeting when I realized that I was still on my back on the ground with Sasuke hovering above, and no way to escape if the need were to arise.

"I've been having my own case of nightmares, but not the regular kind. Demon-infested ones. Ever since I was little, the Kyuubi inside of me has been trying to weaken my spirit enough to take over my body. From what I've guessed, the seal is only as strong as my spirit. So in order to weaken my spirit, Kyuubi has been plaguing me every night throughout my whole life with these nightmares. They're full of blood shed, slaugther, and so much destruction that Kyuubi has done in the past that, I don't know how I've even survived this long. And now they're only getting worse because of the villager's comments. Sometimes, even now, I wake up in such a panic that I have no clue where I am, who people are, or even who I am. And I still have no clue as to how I'm still strong." I'm shaking in terror now, my left hand clinging to my chest trying to reduce the panic that was rising while my right hand clung to something in my pocket that I had forgotten was there.

I look into his eyes, searching for anything that may contradicte what he said. I saw nothing deceiving, but I had seen and been betrayed by so many people with trusting eyes that I had to make sure. With teary eye I spoke, "If you truely mean that, then you can swear to me that you'll come back to me, with your hand placed on my most precious possession, one of the only material objects I hold close to my heart, to confirm everything you say as true and you will never go back on what you have just said."

I pulled my shaking hand from my pocket clinging to the one thing that has kept me going since he left...Sasuke's headband.

Honesty and truth were all I saw lingering in his eyes. His old headband was nested gently between our palms. His skin on mine felt so warm and just so right that I didn't want to let go of him at all. 'It will only be for a little while.' I reassured myself. 'He won't go back on his promise. I know he won't.' I turned the hand clutching my chest into his to grip his hand back, my terror finally retreating. Now I felt like I wanted to be a little selfish, just this once; to have a tiny something of his linger here with me until he returned. "Thank you, thank you so very much. May I ask one more thing of you, Sasuke?"

My breath hitched as his fingers glided over my abs. A strange and unfamiliar sensation coursed through my body at his touch, but it felt so right. A firm yet genuine smile spread on my face, I believe the first that I have ever given at all. I also felt a small blush form before I made my request. "Seal it...with a kiss?"

I had seen that glint in his eye. My thoughts wandered once our lips connected. 'What a pervert. I knew that him training with Kakashi would be a bad idea. At least he's not reading that stupid book. Hehe, wonder if he expects me to know a thing or two about prevertedness.' A smirk formed on my lips before I shyly ran my tongue on his lower lip, hoping to make the kiss deeper.

I giggled into the kiss as his fingers brushed against my stomach, right over the Kyuubi's seal. I couldn't help myself not to giggle, that damn thing's ticklish when lightly touched. 'I hope he doesn't take advantage of that. Wonder if Sasuke's ticklish anywhere.' I thought as said boy broke the kiss to pull my shirt over my head.