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"So what is it today?"

"Crabs," I answered, bending down to remove my thin wooden sandals. I was excited to make another contract, but... something else was on my mind. I just couldn't focus well. What little of the brutal sun that came through glistened off of the waves of the Naka river. This part of the river, concealed by a small but dense forest, was calm and flowed very smoothly, unlike father down stream. The grass here was also very soft, dull purple flowers blooming in clumps here and there, trees blocking most of the sunlight. In fact the only light that reached the river was the reflecting light off of the mountain a few feet away, on the other side of it.

Even this quiet, soothing place didn't calm my nerves. I think Sasuke was picking up on it too, because he kept looking at me out of the corner of his eyes. I know how close this place was to his original village. Maybe he regrets being here. "There aren't many crabs here, I know, but I thought it was better than travelling for two days or so to the sea just for one animal," I said, just to interrupt the tense silence.

"Maybe we should go sometime though." Sasuke leaned up casually against a tree, shrugging his shoulders. "To ask all the species there to make contracts with you. And we as in you and me. Or we could bring the team so it doesn't look suspicious."

I felt myself heating up. "Suspicious"? Really? "Well I don't actually have a team yet-"

"I spoke with Kakashi sensei, and he says it's fine if you team up with us." Sasuke wasn't looking at me anymore. Just staring into the river, shuffling his feet and crossing his arms. "The Academy is planning on rearranging the team members anyway, and he says he'll make sure you're with me. If that's alright with you." Here he gave me a blank, expectant stare.

"Um..." I raised my arm to scratch my head, hiding my face from view. I'm like probably as red as a tomato right now. "Yeah, I'd like that. Thanks for putting that together."

"No problem." There was a quiet silence for a second as he kept staring at the back of my head and I waited for my face simmer down. "Shall we get started?"

"Yeah." I quickly shuffled through my pouch to get the small bag of mussel meat wrapped in seaweed. The mussels were thought to be kind of expensive, but it's better to have an offering, I guess. I turned to lay them in a small tuft of grass near the water as Sasuke pulled from his pouch the brush and ink he would use to write the contract with. I eyed it as he set it down, knowing what would happen once it was written on the bandage. But I have to do it. I have to go through with this.

"You ok?"

I looked up into Sasuke's eyes, shaken out of my thoughts, and nodded, settling down on my knees. "Yep." Act calm. You're fine. "All ready."

Sasuke stood still for a second, and I thought that maybe he would ask me about why I'm being such an idiot. And I thought of how whether I'm hiding something from him or not, I'm always an idiot around him. But he finally knelt down beside me, closing his eyes and bowing his head respectfully. I did the same, and took a deep breath before beginning my request.

"Oh great wanderer of the sands," I started, really unsure where I was going with this. I could hear Sasuke's smirk and compressed laughter. Well you try making up some grand speech on the spot, darn it. "I wish to ask a great favour of thee. Please allow me to form a contract with you-"

"Yes, yes." I opened my eyes to see a little sand crab chewing happily on the seaweed and mussel meat. His little pincers just went round and round, picking up a piece of the food each circle. I think he's smiling. "We would be happy to form a contract with you, most determined human. All we ask is that each morning of the first Friday of every month, you would visit a body of water, preferably this river as it is the place of our contract," he motioned behind him to the water with a claw, "and place in the sand or mud at the edge of the shore one of these seaweed-covered delicacies as an offering. In return we shall come when you call us, whether for fighting purposes or otherwise. You will not believe how much crabs enjoy conversation!" Here he let out some sort of repeated squeak which I took to be laughing. I then noticed that Sasuke was listening as well. The crab must not be speaking in my head then, like the mouse did.

"No problem, that'd be wonderful!" I said, feeling myself smile in spite of trying to be respectful. "It will be nice to have someone like you to talk to!"

Sasuke let's out a snort, and I turn to give him a reprimanding look. I mean seriously, I know it's a crab, but he's a pretty great guy! And here Sasuke is trying to hide his laughter behind his bangs! "Sasuke..." I muttered, feeling embarrassed for him in front of the crab. "Could you please write the contract on my elbow?"

He nodded, controlling himself, and moved swiftly to write the characters over the bandages. I tensed under his hand. I'm sure it will happen again just like it did with the mouse queen's contract.

Luckily I had my new crab friend to distract me. He didn't seem to notice one bit that Sasuke had been laughing at him. "In battle we're pretty good too! Our pincers are big and strong, even on the smaller crabs such as myself. The larger crabs have even better pincers, and if the king ever comes to your aid, then he'll be sure to destroy any foe you find yourself up against!" He babbled on and on this way for a few minutes, but I enjoyed it. He's really bubbly!

"Now let me just see this elbow of yours," the crab said, shuffling sideways to my arm after Sasuke had finished. I winced as I felt the piercing of his pincers into my skin. "Sorry about that, just seals the contract," he said cheerfully as he came to face me again. "Remember, first Friday morning of every month! And call anytime! We crabs will know why you call, so if you aren't in battle there is no need to try and specify if you need a large crab or just a small one to talk to!"

And with that he popped into the river.

"...Wow." I glanced at Sasuke. "I didn't expect them to be so talkative."

"I think you have some new BFFs," he said. Is that the hint of a giggle I hear? Coming out of Sasuke's mouth??? He's full-on smiling now too.

"What the heck is so funny about an optimistic, happy-to-be-alive crab?" I ask, amazed at the fact he finds this so amusing.

"Nothing, nothing," he said, smiling some more. "Just I'm happy to see you enjoying yourself. I just didn't think it'd be with a crab."

I giggled and stood up, stretching my arm. "Yeah, well, I'm not too difficult to please, I guess," I answered, collecting the ink and brush. "Let's get to the top of the mountain as we planned before the sun goes down. That gives us about three hours, for there and back."

Sasuke stood next to me and stretched as well. "Alright, let's go."

I had almost forgotten the transformation that takes place after a contract is made. But I felt the pins and needles on my elbow, and my nervousness increased as we made our way across the river.