"Boy, am I glad to be rid of these things!"

Naruto sent the okobo flying across the room and dropped onto the futon. His feet were killing him. How the heck did Katana and the other girls in the okiya wear these contraptions day in and day out? It was pure torture.

"Yeah, they're a pain sometimes," said Katana, as she sat on her knees beside him. "You did good tonight, Naruto."

"You think so?" Naruto sat up and scratched the nape of his neck, a faint hue of pink coloring his cheeks. "I got worried for a sec when I couldn't immediately get my clones to appear like I wanted."

"But you got it right anyway, just like I knew you would. And look, you're still holding your Sexy Jutsu. I know you get a lot of skepticism over it, but it was invaluable for today's mission."

"Nah, come on, Katana, stop already. You're making me blush."

"But you look so cute when you blush."

Naruto's cheeks reddened even more, prompting Katana to laugh at his embarrassment. That sound was the most amazing thing he'd heard in a long time. He'd give anything to make this moment last. Just him and Katana hanging out and having fun like they used to.    

"So, um... can I take this outfit off now?" he asked, pulling at the kimono. "No offence to you girls, but getting this dressed up for just an hour is a real drag."

"You did not just quote Shikamaru," remarked Katana with a chuckling snort.

"Trust me, he'd agree in a heartbeat."

"Not arguing with that one. Okay, sit straight. I'll remove your make-up first."

They moved a little further on the futon, so Katana could reach for her things on the vanity. Naruto gawked when all she needed to remove the make-up was just some tsubaki oil on a couple of pads. In just a few minutes, he was spotless and smelling like sweet camellia. All that stuff and time she'd needed to apply the make-up now seemed like such a waste.

"Hey Katana," Naruto's soft voice drew the maiko's attention as she put everything back in her bag, "I wanted to thank you for not killing that man. I know it was your mission, and that you'll probably get in trouble, so, um... thanks."

Katana visibly stiffened, the little flask of oil hovering an inch above her bag. The smile that'd been on her lips since they sat down wavered, and her expression even darkened in the mirror's reflection. Naruto bit his lip, cursing himself for reminding her she'd failed her task. He had no intention of letting her take the fall for it, though. If Mameha demanded an explanation, he'd stand right there with her. 

"Do you, um... want some help with your make-up?" he offered, hoping to diffuse the tension that had descended into the room. 

"I'll do mine later," she said. "Let's get you out of that kimono."

After she helped him back up, Katana made quick work of liberating Naruto from the intricate clothing pieces. The moment all the different layers were off, he released the Sexy Jutsu, reverting to a teenage boy wearing just green and yellow boxers. He checked himself out in the mirror, making sure everything was where it should be. Not that he didn't believe he hadn't pulled off a perfect Jutsu for several hours, but it was the first time he'd done it, so better safe than sorry.
While he dressed in the simple orange sweats and white shirt he'd left earlier, Naruto wondered why Katana didn't change as well. But then he remembered he actually wasn't a girl anymore and it would be highly improper. The last thing he wanted was for Katana to accuse him of becoming like Pervy Sage. 

"Something wrong?" Katana shot Naruto a sideways glance when she noticed him lingering in the middle of the room. 

"No, just," he paused and grazed his teeth over his lip, "during the mission, I asked if we could talk back in the inn. We're back, so... can we?"

"Is it important?"

"It is to me, yeah."

With a sigh, Katana straightened and turned to face Naruto, her hands clasped together before her. She waited for him to speak, but the blond found himself speechless. Or no, not really that. Naruto actually had a million things to say, but he didn't know how. 

"Well?" urged Katana. 

"Sorry, I... I'm trying to find the right words," admitted Naruto. "With everything that happened during the Chunin Exams, and yesterday in the Forest, and the Hokage dying... there's just so much."

Katana's hard expression softened a little. She closed the distance between them and put a hand on his shoulder. Her touch was an instant comfort to Naruto. He felt the same as when he had his first sip of the yummy ramen broth at Ichiraku's. Warmth just spread through him. It felt so good. She felt good.

Come on, Naruto, just say it already. 

"What I really wanted to say... I'm scared for you, Katana. You've changed so much since you became a maiko. You're so distant, and you hardly smile anymore."

"There's not much to smile about these days."

"Sure there is," rebuffed Naruto. "But you can't close yourself off. I'm your friend. I care about you. Whatever you're facing, you don't have to go through it alone. I'll be right there for you, believe it."

"There's nothing you can do," said Katana. "We knew this day would come eventually, Naruto. It's better to accept it now, before both of us get hurt."

She removed her hand from his shoulder. But Naruto wouldn't let Katana have the final say. He snatched her wrist mid-air and said, "I won't accept it. And neither should you. I've asked you before to run away with me, and I'm asking you again. There's nothing for us in the Leaf. No family, no home... Nobody will give a damn what we do. So let's just wait until the others are asleep and go."

"Naruto, don't be ridiculous."

"Don't call me that! Come on, Katana, are you really telling you're giving up on finding your family?"

She tsk-ed, eerily resembling Sasuke in her mannerism. "It's been nine years. They aren't looking for me, so why should I look for them?"

Naruto started, incredulous at what he was hearing. For as long as he could remember, Katana would always talk about finding her family and escaping the life of the geisha. Yet here she was, readily abandoning her goal. 

"Besides, you can't leave, remember?" Katana went on. "Or are you saying it's okay for you to give up your dream of becoming Hokage, but not for me to give up a child's foolish wish?"

The grip around Katana's wrist loosened. Naruto swallowed. "I —"

"If we run, you'll break your promise to me. You'll make me break mine as well. You swore you'd become Hokage, just as I swore I'd help and protect you along the way. And you're not the only one I made promises to. Do you want to make liars out of both of us?"

"No, that's not what I —"

"So we agree we won't run away. We accept what can't be changed and continue as we —"

"Katana, I love you!"

The moment Naruto realized what he'd just said, he wished he hadn't. Katana's hand slipped through his fingers as she stepped back, her expression aghast and her face pale. Naruto felt a heaviness settle onto him. The weight of his words was pressing down, forcing him to either lift them and himself up or allow them to crush him completely. 

"I'm sorry, I... I didn't mean to say it like that," he said. 

"What did you mean, then?" demanded Katana. "Because last I checked, you were still head over heels with Sakura."

"I am. I mean, I was. Or... maybe?" 

Naruto knew he wasn't making any sense right. Nothing made sense to him anymore. Yes, he had a huge crush on Sakura, and yes, he'd always hoped his teammate would notice him and become his girlfriend. But that all fell to nothing when Katana was around.
She'd been his only friend for years. The only person he could talk to, play with, laugh with, train with. She'd seen and dried his tears. She alone had wished him happy birthday and brought him a cake. Katana had been there when everyone else had abandoned him. She was the one who always came back. And he loved her for that. He loved her, period.

Hesitantly, Naruto took hold of Katana's hands and met her gaze. There was such confusion and apprehension in her enchanting blue eyes. He understood the feeling all too well. What did he, a teenage orphan who'd had to fend for himself from day one, even know about love? How could he even be sure this was love and not just another crush like he had with Sakura?
But then Naruto again sensed what he'd sensed before. That fuzzy warmth in the pit of his stomach. It intensified when he gingerly stroked Katana's skin with his thumb. So soft...
Naruto closed his eyes and leaned. But just before their lips touched, Katana pulled away. 

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I can't."

She ran. The fuzziness turned into pins and needles jabbing at Naruto from all sides. He fell to his knees and punched the floor with his fists. Yet the physical pain wasn't nearly enough to help overcome the torment of his breaking heart. 

***

Sasuke's onyx eyes looked towards the lake in the distance. Even on a moonless night, he still caught a reflective shimmer as the night breeze stroked the water thanks to his inherited visual prowess. He leaned back, letting his one leg dangle off the side of the windowsill while he used his other knee as an armrest, and took in the quiet. 
A soft knock interrupted the momentary peace, making Sasuke huff in annoyance. He stayed silent, hoping whoever was there would just go away. But a second knock came, and the door then opened. Sasuke froze on the spot when Katana appeared on the threshold. 

"Can I come in?" she asked and showed the tray holding two cups and a steaming pot of tea in her hands. "It's your favorite."

Despite his anger, Sasuke silently beckoned his friend in. He watched Katana sit on her knees on the futon and place the tray on the floor. With a graceful gesture in which she slipped back the sleeve of her dark-blue kimono, she picked the pot up and poured the dark liquid into the cups. She offered Sasuke one, but he didn't take it. 

"It's not poisoned if that's what you're worried about," said Katana. 

Sasuke narrowed his eyes at her. He had absolutely no doubt the tea was perfectly fine, but something still felt off. Why was Katana still in her kimono? The mission was over, so there was no reason for her to still wear it. And where was Naruto? Hadn't he gone to her room to change?
Katana sighed and drank from the cup. Then she took her own and drank from that one as well. Again, she offered Sasuke the tea. "See? Not poisoned."

The raven teen slipped off the windowsill to join the maiko. He sat across from her in tailor-pose and sipped from his cup. The flavor of the black tea with cinnamon and orange hit just right, bringing back memories of a happier time when he'd sit on the porch of his house with Katana, eating the ginger cookies his mother would make just for them. How he missed that time.
They drank in silence, as they so often did back home. Every few seconds, Sasuke glanced up at Katana between his lashes. He usually had a clear read on her, but not tonight. There was something peculiar about her. Elusive, but also... ominous. He couldn't shake the feeling. Eventually, Katana was the first to break the silence.

"I owe you an apology," she began. "Yuna's kimono was the only one we still had at the okiya that would fit Naruto. I would've given him one of my own, but I lost the white in the Forest of Death, and the green is ruined from when I fell into the water yesterday."

Sasuke swallowed back the lump forming in his throat. He set his empty cup on the tray and cast his eyes down. "It's fine. I couldn't care less."

"You do. Just like you care about me."

A dainty hand cupped Sasuke's face, startling him. He met Katana's vibrant eyes. Blue as the lake in the village on a summer's day.

"No secrets, remember?" Katana's whispering voice sent a shiver down his spine. "Tell me the truth. Are you jealous of my friendship with Naruto?"

Sasuke's jaw clenched. His fists balled on his knees. Of course she'd noticed. She was as observant as he was, perhaps even more. He hadn't exactly been subtle these past weeks. His sentiments about Katana and Naruto had been more than clear. Today had only made it worse.

I should've kept my cool earlier, Sasuke chastised himself. Instead, I acted like... like... Naruto! Stupid, love-sick loser! 

"I just... don't like how close you two are." 

"Oh, is that all?"

"Yes. I'm not jealous, if that's what you think."

"Liar."

Had Sasuke not been looking right into those blue pools, he would've scoffed or rolled his eyes at that remark. Had he not placed his own hand to Katana's face, he would've backed away from her touch. But his body refused to cooperate. Words failed him. Every single reason for this not being a good idea was shoved to the very back of his mind.
They leaned in. The tip of their noses touched. There was still time to stop this from going any further. From making the same mistake Itachi had made when he fell for a maiko. From ruining his only real friendship. But Sasuke didn't want to stop.

His eyes closed as her lips pressed softly against his. Sasuke had never been more aware of Katana than in that moment. Her touch tantalized him, her warmth comforted him, and her kiss made him soar. It ended far too quickly.
Sasuke drew back to look into Katana's eyes again. That's when he saw the tears brimming against her lashes. Her expression wasn't one of happiness, but of bitter misery. 

"I'm sorry it had to be you, Sasuke," she whispered with a strained sob.

"What do you —?"

Suddenly, Sasuke's heart somersaulted and thudded frantically. He gasped for breath and clutched his chest. Every single nerve in his body screamed in agonizing pain. He stumbled to the floor, knocking over the empty cups on the tray. Little streams of residue tea trickled out. 
Sasuke tried to look up at his friend, but the maiko had vanished. Left without a trace. Without a farewell. Without him.

"S-Sa... yuri..."

He welcomed the darkness. The heartache. The lonely death he'd always been sure to die.

***

By the time Team 7 got their teammate back to the Leaf and into the hospital, Sasuke had already slipped into a death-like sleep. His skin was ghostly white and cold to the touch. The medics gave him basic antivenom, yet without knowing what he'd been poisoned with, their attempt to make him better could just make him worse. The teacup Sakura had carefully wrapped and brought along was being tested, but it was taking too long. And to everyone's great consternation, the one person who could save Sasuke kept quiet.

"This isn't a joke, Katana!" screamed Naruto. "Sasuke is really dying here, ya know? You're a poison expert, so save him!"

"Katana, please," Sakura pleaded, hands clasped together and head bowed. "I know you care about Sasuke. You can't just let him die like this."

But Katana still refused to speak. She sat in silence on a chair at the far side of the room and kept her gaze firmly on the door. The shards of her broken heart pierced her with every breath. After tonight, neither Sasuke nor Naruto would ever want to talk to her again. Better the friendships died than they did. 

"Both of you sit down and keep quiet," ordered Kakashi. "It won't be much longer now."

"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?" asked Naruto.

But just then, the door to the room opened. Mameha's stately person walked in, graceful as ever. Her black eyes roved over them, carefully taking them all in. When they finally lingered on Katana, the maiko averted. She couldn't bear to look at the geisha without feeling disgusted at what she'd been forced to do. 

"So," said Mameha, "you did it."

"Yes, Oneesan," whispered Katana.

Kakashi placed a hand on her shoulder. She knew it was meant to console, but it was a reminder of the one chance she might've had to get away from it all. Earlier that night, before they'd departed for the nobleman's palace, Kakashi had urged her to think matters through. He'd even offered to help her run, but she'd refused. Running would've only sealed Naruto and Sasuke's fate. She preferred them hating her, then having to stand over their graves, knowing she'd been the one who'd put them there. So, she'd said no, determined to keep her promised to the boys, and Kagami, too, and be their protector from the shadows instead.

"Did what?" Naruto's confused gaze flickered between the two. "What's going on here?"

A gasp permeated the silence then. Katana glimpsed up to see Sakura's dismayed expression. The pink-haired girl shook her head and clasped a hand over her mouth. 

"You," she spoke.

"Her, what?" asked Naruto, looking from one girl to the other. "What am I missing?"

"It," Sakura swallowed, "was Katana. She poisoned him."

"Huh? No, that's crazy, Sakura. Sasuke's her friend. Katana, tell her." 

His insistent gaze shattered Katana further. She pressed her lips together and hung her head. Naruto stepped back, eyes widening in disbelief. "N-No, you couldn't have. You wouldn't!"

Hearing the horror in his voice gutted Katana. She fought her tears, refusing to show her anguish. 

"Mameha," Kakashi's harsh tone cut through the heavy tension in the room, "this has gone far enough. Give Sasuke the antidote."

"Just a moment, Kakashi," spoke the geisha. "First, I wish to know how she did it. I understand a teacup is being tested for poison, but knowing Katana, that would've been too obvious. Especially if she drank from the same tea."

"She... did," said Sakura slowly. "There were two empty cups next to Sasuke."

"Then it stands to reason either the cup itself was poisoned so the boy would believe the tea was safe to drink or..."

Mameha's words trailed, leaving Katana no choice. She carefully peeled the thin foil off her lips, silently announcing how she'd poisoned the Uchiha heir. The geisha's dark eyes narrowed at the revelation. 

"You were the poison?" She hummed. "A risky move, Katana. I take it you took some of the antidote before applying the foil to your lips?"

"Yes," answered Katana in a tiny voice. 

"Hm, smart girl. Kakashi, do you confirm her success on your team's mission as well?" 

"I do," he answered curtly. "The thief is dead."

"Splendid," said Mameha. "Return to the okiya at once, Katana. I will discuss your progress with the village elders."

When she finally moved to Sasuke's bed to give him the antidote, Katana got up from her seat, her body weightless, yet burdened by her actions. She walked past Sakura, who stood near to crying upon learning the boy whose attention she so desperately craved had kissed another. She approached Naruto, whose disbelief was etched on every part of his face. But by the time the maiko passed him, not once meeting his eyes, that disbelief had changed into anger. Into sheer, unbridled rage. Katana knew then she'd lost him.
Killing the thief after he'd asked her not to was the first betrayal of their friendship. Poisoning Sasuke, his rival and teammate, was the second. Yet kissing Sasuke was a betrayal of Naruto's love. A love she hadn't reciprocated, because she didn't know how. Not when her heart ached for both of them. 

Geisha do not have friends. Geisha do not have family apart from the one they make within the sacred walls of the okiya. Friends get in the way. Feelings destroy geisha.
Come morning, Katana would have no more friends. No more weakness.
Come morning... she would be geisha.