Rebirth Chapter 12

The Introduction

The campfire blazed, casting a red glow on the faces of the two humans on opposite sides of the pit. Rurijo was swaying from side to side on her tiny little talons, appearing to be drunk. It must have been the sake from the ramen place earlier that day.

Kusanagi was safely tucked under Sasuke's arm and his onyx eyes were closed, but that didn't mean he wasn't alert. It was for this reason that he jumped three feet in the air when the silence was finally broken by the girl.

"I'm Suzu by the way."

"And why should I care?" Sasuke asked with a blank voice and expression equally so.

"I just realised we were never formally introduced."

"There are no formalities out here kiddo."

"Kiddo? How old are you?" Suzu asked, annoyed for being considered a child.

"Seventeen. Not that it's any of your business."

Suzu huffed. "Well, I'm fifteen, so you're not really that much older."

"Hn."

"What does 'hn' mean?"

"Hn."

Suzu frowned. Obviously this conversation was not veering in the right direction. Maybe she should trick him into telling her his name, how, was the question. She glanced at Rurijo and an idea struck. Rurijo seemed to notice the glint in Suzu's eyes, because she hopped on Sasuke's shoulder and pecked his ear.

"Peck me one more time and I will blast you into smithereens, bird," Sasuke grunted, his eyes once again closed but his brows furrowed.

"Duck butt, right? That's your name?"

Sasuke really hated this bird. Especially when she continued to chant that pet name, and he was no-one's pet.

"Duck butt, duck butt, duck, duck, goose, duck butt," Rurijo began to sing aria style. Sasuke grabbed for the hilt of Kusanagi and Rurijo flew from his shoulder and burrowed under Suzu's short hair, poking her head out one more time.

"DUCK BUTT!"

"Fine," Sasuke sighed in defeat, "my name is Uchiha Sasuke. Now stop chanting that nonsense or I will cut you down with the girl."

Suzu's eyes narrowed dangerously. "I'm not 'the girl', its Suzu. And threaten Rurijo again and I will put your hair on fire."

Sasuke sat down and did not reply. Closing his eyes he sank back and seemed to fall asleep. He had expected Suzu to recognise his name, but she didn't. He didn't know what to think of it.

Suzu stared at him a moment longer and then lay down as well, facing him so that he could not do anything unexpected during the night. She smiled evilly to herself. Sasuke, it sounded a bit like Sauce. Indeed, she knew how to get under his skin.