Chapter 22

The silence hung in the air as the two stared at one another. Sasuke thought the ninja would still be unconscious and Mai was a little unsure of where to start. There were a lot of things to discuss. A lot of pain. A lot of heartbreak.

"Well, aren't you going to at least say hello?" the Phantom Ninja finally spoke. "Or continue to stand there like an idiot in the doorway?"

The Uchiha sighed, "In some ways you haven't changed." Making his way closer, the rogue came to stand beside the bed. "I guess I should have expected that, however... it's not as carefree or teasing as it used to be."

"A lot has changed, Sasuke."

"I suppose it has."

He couldn't honestly think after everything had happened between them over the last few years, she'd welcome him so easily with open arms. No, Sasuke didn't believe it would be that simple. Both had developed trust issues at a young age after the massacre of the Uchiha Clan. And whatever trust they had between each other had been shattered on the night he defected. At the time the Uchiha knew it was the right thing to do, to grow stronger and leave her behind, but as time went on he realized how selfish he had been about the whole matter. In dealing with his own suffering and anger, he failed to realize he had not been alone. As children Mai had always been the stronger of the two and that was still the case today. The Be Fong deserved an apology... but now was not the right time. Because she wouldn't exactly believe him. Not yet.

"I've been talking with the Hokage, Kakashi, and Naruto," he finally spoke up.

"Sakura told me they were thinking of lifting your charges."

"And you don't think they should."

The teen watched him for a moment. "To an extent. You pulled a lot of shit these last few years."

Unfortunately, he couldn't argue with her there and chose to remain silent.

"Why did you, of all people, have a change of heart?" she wondered. "And so suddenly?"

"Can you really find it so hard to believe that I may be capable of change from everything I've seen and witnessed?"

The Be Fong's brows narrowed.

"You plunged a sword through my chest, tried to kill our teammates, attacked the Kage Summit, joined Akatsuki, hunted the hosts of beasts, and killed countless people along the way. Can you blame me?"

No, he couldn't.

"I went through hell because of you. So don't think your sudden choice to help us in the war will mean everything is okay again, because it isn't."

"My intention to return was not to get back in your good graces." Mai cocked a brow. "Maybe not entirely..." he then muttered lowly. "I finally understood my path with the help of Itachi and resurrecting Hokages to learn the truth for myself."

"I'm surprised you listened."

He nearly chuckled, shaking his head instead. "I didn't at first, which was why I followed Madara... or Obito, whatever you wish to call him. When I finally had Itachi's eyes and spoke with him as a corpse..."

"It took you long enough."

"I was clouded by hate and vengeance."

"That is no–"

"And even if that was my drive to grow stronger... it still wasn't enough." Her brows pinched in confusion. "I was unable to see the truth behind the lies of what was thought to be real. And it was nearly too late to change the course of my actions and it almost cost the lives of everyone in this world. Including your own. I didn't defeat Obito, nor did Naruto, or the Hokages."

"Because we killed him together."

His head shook. "It was all you, Mai. Everything you did to stand up against the Ten-Tail was to continuously buy time because we could not find an answer. It was only that last attack from you that worked alongside all of us sealed his fate by fusing with our own."

And how was she able to do that? He wondered if the teen even knew herself. But that was getting off the topic at hand.

"You are clearly stronger. I am not."

There was a tense silence that hung in the air and the Be Fong's expression was as unreadable as ever. "You're leaving again." It wasn't a question. Mai knew. Of course she did. Sasuke could rarely hide anything from her.

"I have to get stronger. I have yet to reach my full potential as I wasn't focused due to my heightened emotions and narrowmindedness. Being in the war showed me that."

"Why?"

"Because we nearly die."

You almost died. More than once. And the Uchiha couldn't bear the thought of losing someone else close to him. Not with Itachi gone and now knowing the truth. Without her he'd truly be all alone.

"It won't happen again," Sasuke declared.

Mai turned away, looking out the window. "You've done enough," she spoke softly. "None of us need to grow stronger."

She couldn't understand why he would say such a thing. They had all come so far since being Genin. They had won a war against an impossible enemy. There was no need for any of this in her eyes. Wasn't it time now to say enough?

Still, the back of the Be Fong's mind she knew the Uchiha would not stay. Not with his mind set on something. And for the first time in a while the teen felt... disappointment. She had told Sakura her opinion on the matter, but at the same time was wishing to be proven wrong.

"When will you leave?" the teen dared to ask.

"Before you are out of this hospital."

"How long?" her voice was harsh. Mai was not in the mood for games.

"Soon, now that you're awake. I've waited in Konoha this whole time to tell you of my decision face-to-face."

"You're actually saying goodbye this time. Not going to run away?"

"Not this time. In a way, yes, this is goodbye for now."

But there were still so many unanswered questions. Ones they could not even begin to bring to light at this very moment or know how to voice, maybe even answer. That would need to be saved for another time.

"Mai..." She did not look at him.

"What you said all those years ago... do you still mean it?"

That time at the Valley of the End, where the statues of the First Hokage and Madara Uchiha stood. It seemed so long ago.

"I will never forgive you."

There had been so much hate and betrayal.

"I hate you, Sasuke Uchiha."

The door opening made their attention waver, watching as Tsunade entered. "Excuse me, I didn't mean to interrupt," the woman stated. "I can come back later."

"No, I was just leaving," Sasuke interrupted. Moving away from the bed the Uchiha left silently, not glancing back once.

"How are you feeling?"

"I've been better," the teen stated.

"Well, you should be worse off, but you're lucky you're not."

So she had been told multiple times.

"Now then..." Tsunade pulled up a chair. She opened the file in hand to document their conversation. "I would like for you to start from the beginning. You're the only one I have yet to debrief on the war. I would like to hear it from your perspective."

"We're going to be here a long time," Mai said.

"I am well aware of that. From what Kakashi, Belva, Sai, and Naruto have had to say from their reports you've been rather busy."

"You have no idea."

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Chapter Inspiration: Still Worth Fighting For by My Darkest Days

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It was late when Sasuke returned, but it was not during visiting hours. He had slipped in through the cracked open window in Mai's third floor room finding the Be Fong asleep. And she wasn't pretending either. The medical staff knocked her unconscious with drugs per the Hokage's instructions to help the recovery process. The treatment to be performed on the damaged limb would commence in the evening well into the early morning after being fitted with new bandages and medicinal seals. But the toll it would take on the nerves and muscles would be too much for the patient to experience while conscious. Even for someone as strong as the Be Fong.

He stood beside the bed once more watching her carefully, noticing for once how peaceful Mai looked. It wasn't something someone would normally have the pleasure of witnessing with how dangerous the teen carried herself. It made him sigh.

"I know there's still a part of you that hates me," he muttered lowly. "But I hope one day I can change your mind."

A hand reached forward to lightly cup a cheek.

"I still have questions for you and there's no doubt in my mind you hold the same for me as well. But here in the center of Konoha is not the time and place to discuss that with ears listening to my every word. We will do this in private when you are in better condition." The Uchiha leaned forward, kissing Mai's forehead. "I do care about you Mai. Don't get into any trouble while I'm gone."

The Uchiha made his way from the hospital to the East Gates of the Village. Besides the ninja along the top of the wall, there was another figure standing in its shadows, waiting.

"Are you sure you're doing the right thing?" Naruto asked. He was the only one to meet the Uchiha, holding a satchel for the Uchiha to take for journey ahead. "Leaving like this again."

"She knew I was leaving this time."

The blonde's eyes narrowed. "I still don't completely agree. She only woke up today and already you'll be gone again. And I still don't understand why you are doing this."

"I am not leaving this time for revenge. I'm doing it so I can become stronger... so we are safe."

Naruto watched his former teammate carefully, trying to find a more reasonable explanation behind all of this. And it was then the realized what this was all about when Sasuke refused to meet his gaze. "This is all for her, isn't it? You're scared–"

"I am not–"

"–because she nearly did die against Obito. When you say 'so we are safe' you mean 'so she is safe'. Mai."

"I don't know what you are talking about."

Naruto smirked, knowing he had seen through the Uchiha's act.

"You will speak to no one about this," Sasuke muttered lowly.

"I won't say a word. But I still don't agree that this is the way. You know Mai would never ask for you to do this for her. Even if she won't admit it, Mai wants you to stay."

"I need to get stronger," was Sasuke's only answer. He took the satchel from the Genin's hands and disappeared into the night. [song ends]

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It didn't surprise Mai when she woke the next morning to find Naruto siting in a chair beside her reading something. It was the only confirmation she needed to know Sasuke was gone. Even before the blonde spoke when his head lifted to see she was conscious. His look alone was enough and she didn't wish to talk about it. When the Genin left the hospital later that day he sighed heavily, head shaking.

"Not good, I take it," Sakura said, coming up alongside him. Her shift had just ended.

"Not at all," the blonde said.

It took a month and a half for the hospital to finally discharge the Be Fong when it should have taken someone in her condition nearly three. But no one should have been surprised. Of course Mai had not regained much movement in the arm, maybe a twitch here and there if possible, but it wasn't fair to keep the ninja in a hospital room until she was completely well. That would only drive the teen insane staring at four white walls. She walked through the busy streets of Konoha with the arm in a sling wrapped up and medicated with a bag full of more medicine and bandages for the coming months.

The Phantom Ninja was signed up for physical therapy and regular trips to the hospital to monitor the limb. There were few people she nodded to in passing as ninja recognized her from the battlefield. But none approached on another with silent understanding that all parties wished to be left in peace and not reminded of the horrors on the battlefield. Though there were a few who offered the Be Fong a quick thanks. For they would have died in some cases if she had not intervened at given times. And when coming to the outskirts of the Village where there was next to no one around, and the number of houses thinned, Mai sighed in relief. Finally, alone. With no one to bother her or comrades to offer looks of pity regarding Sasuke's second departure. That overwhelming feeling was disappearing with each step taken as the familiar sight of her home came into view.

The house was completely spotless upon entering. As if no one had been there in the first place. But there was a note on the table in the kitchen that Ibiki had been using as a workstation.

We left it just as you had it before we took over, the man wrote, though there was no name. She'd recognize his hand writing from all of the missions assigned to her over the years. If anything, it's cleaner.

Mai smirked at that.

I heard what happened. After your appointment on Monday morning come by my office to discuss your possibilities.

The Be Fong groaned, rolling up the note before lighting it on fire so it became nothing but ashes. She would not be put on desk duty that was for damn sure. Moving into the bedroom she threw the bag onto the center of the bed and went to leave when a noise reached her ears. It sounded like crumpling paper. Pushing away the item the teen threw back the covers to reveal another note. That wasn't there before she left for the war. Quickly, Mai snatched it up, recognizing this hand writing as well. Even if it wasn't as childish in appearance from when they were Genin. This was refined.

I'm surprised you're still living here after all these years. I should have known. Still, you definitely fixed it up quite a bit. It actually looks nice for once and not falling apart like when we were kids. I will see you soon and look forward to hearing the answer to my question from the hospital. We're not done talking.

No, they weren't, Mai agreed. There was so much more to be discussed. This one too she turned into ash. Walking across the living room to an old record player, she lowered the needle onto a favorite vinyl. It was a melodic peace, something she'd listen to during her meditation practices before and after sparing and missions. Very tranquil, with traditional instruments playing in harmony settling the atmosphere in the room. Mai then went over to the sliding doors on the opposite side of the room to allow the cool breeze to filter in before finally sitting on the couch. Sighing heavily her head lazily rolled to the side in order to stare at the limp arm propped up on a pillow.

Entropy. That was what it was called. A disorder where the energy in one's system is so damaged and cut off for the time being it's not able to perform it's given task. Temporary paralysis. She had to make it move again through retraining the actions normally performed.

"Move your pinky."

Nothing. But that was to be expected.

"Move your pinky."

This practice took time, patience, and a great deal of concentration.

"Move your pinky."

One could not get frustrated.

"Move your pinky."

This could take hours.

"Move your pinky."

If not days.

"Move your pinky."

But she had time.

"Move your pinky."

Mai had all the time in the world.