Well, it was really all his fault.

It was! No matter what he said about it. There she had been minding her own business when he had come and messed everything right up.

Ino had always been a good student. (Aiish! Don't look at me like that, you can be brainy and have great fashion sense too, you know! Sakura just uses her brains as an excuse not to look good!) But this year was different, it was personal. Two rows down and one seat across sat Sasuke Uchiha, her ex-boyfriend. Or at least that's what she liked to tell Sakura, in reality it had been one date the boy had left early but still – it was more than the pinkette had ever gotten. Ino scowled, delicate brow furrowing as she laid eyes upon him. Ugh, she couldn't even see why she'd ever liked him! Yes, he was tall, dark and mysterious, not to mention those eyes that you could drown in and-

No. He could be as dreamy as they come but he was still a stuck up little brat who didn't know sex on legs when it walked up to him and asked him on a date over and over. Flipping her hair back the blonde instead chose to focus on the teacher's voice still dragging on about some boring topic or another. Christ. How was a girl supposed to learn anything with a teacher who made the lesson sound about as interesting as a mall with no sales? Nevertheless she patiently wrote notes down, checking the textbook for reference as she went. That Uchiha snob had scored higher than her on her last test and she'd be damned if he was about to rub it in her face with that smug smirk on his lips ever again.

Luckily she was saved from the tediousness of yet another 'amusing' anecdote about trigonometry when the bell rang, sounding the end of the lesson. Trying, and most likely failing, to hide her glee Ino grabbed up her books and made her way to the door, making sure to sashay past Sasuke's desk as she did so.

"Bye Iruka-sensei!" She called with a small waggle of her fingers as she left the classroom. Sadly the day wasn't over quite yet so it was with a distinct lack of spring in her step that she made her way down the hall to her next class; English Lit. There was at least one upside, they had a new teacher and if she got there quick she might be able to put in a good first impression and maybe a bad word about a certain someone.

Pushing open the door with a wide smile on her face she greeted him with her best perfect-girl-next-door-A-grade-student voice. "Hi Sensei! Welcome to our school! I'm Ino Yamanaka and it's-" Her words failed her as her jaw dropped open, large blue eyes growing even wider as she stared up at the man standing behind the desk.

He was gorgeous! No. More than that, he was beautiful. Could someone who looked that good really be her new teacher? Ino couldn't decide if the gods were smiling down on her or playing some cruel joke by placing someone so delicious right in front of her yet making him totally unattainable at the same time. Oh my, those lashes! Even behind those thin rimmed glasses they cut sharp shadows against his elegant cheekbones. And that voice. So velevet soft yet somehow firm and.. Oh no wait, was he talking? If he was Ino had no idea what he had said.

The mysterious man cleared his throat, waiting for her reply.

"Uh, yes?" She said tentatively, more a question than an answer but it was accompanied by her winning smile and a few bats of her own dark lashes for good measure. Unfortunately he seemed largely unaffected by her attempts at charming him. However Ino did have the ability of being able to fill any awkward silence and she most definitely loved the sound of her own voice so as always she pressed on as the man she was trying to impress began looking at her like he suspected she had a few screws loose. "Ah, as I was saying, I'm Ino Yamanaka, president of the student body and it's my job to come and make you feel welcome so if there's anything you need just ask, ne?" She neglected to mention how she was merely joint head but of course her co-president had only won because all the girls, including her, had voted for him and she severely doubted he had done anything worthwhile with his title ever since he'd gotten it.

"Thank you, Ino-san." His answering smile was a small one but it felt like a triumph to her, and the way he said her name… "Now if you'd take a seat I'm sure the rest of the class will be here soon."

And with that her little fantasy of him the dashing prince about to whisk away the beautiful yet tragic princess was gone. The rest of the class? She pouted, sure as soon as they got here their romantic moment would be over and he would be the talk of the whole student body. Hmmm… I wonder what his body looks like…

Taking a seat in the front row Ino crossed her legs hoping to catch his eyes drift towards them, which of course they didn't, and leaned forward – azure eyes still fixed on him. "So, does Sensei have a name?"

And again there was that look like she was crazy. Obviously he had a name! Thankfully he was polite enough to humour her. "Yes, my name is Itachi."

Her smile widened as she licked her lips, rolling the name around her mouth. Itachi. Even their names sounded good together! As good as she was sure she would look on his arm. "Well, Itachi-sensei, I'm sure you'll just love it here. Everyone is really nice and they all try really hard," Ino paused, a quick glance to the still noisy corridor before she raised her hand to her mouth to quiet her words. "Although some of them just don't get it no matter how hard they try, you know? Although I'm sure they'll pay a lot more attention now you're here."

As she spoke Itachi preoccupied himself with sorting various papers and books on his desk but he nodded and smiled at appropriate intervals and really that was all the encouragement Ino ever needed. Ah! Right, there was a little message she had wanted to pass on to the new teacher today. "But I guess I should warn you… There is this one boy, Sasuke Uchiha, he acts like that smart-aleck typical know it all but I've heard he cheats! You didn't hear it from me though, okay?" At her words Itachi stiffened, not that she could blame him. Cheating was a pretty big deal and yeah, okay, maybe it wasn't exactly true but there had to be some secret. No one was that perfect.

Ino's gaze flicked to the door as she caught movement out of the corner of her eye. "Speak of the devil." She muttered under her breath, expression turning sour as Sasuke gave her that cocky smile. Well, at least he couldn't claim he was that hottest boy in the school anymore! She did, however, resist the urge to pock her tongue out at him – she wouldn't want to look immature in front of Itachi after all.

Sasuke apparently didn't feel the same if the first words that came out of his mouth were anything to go by. "Itachi." He called, Ino's eyes narrowed. How could he talk so rudely to their new teacher? And when exactly did they get so chummy anyway? It was only second period and she was sure Sasuke wouldn't have gotten to school early just to chat with him – even Ino hadn't been that enthusiastic. "I didn't think you'd lower yourself to teaching trash like her."

The look on Ino's face stormed over; her subtle glare becoming an expression of pure rage, colour flooding to her cheeks. How dare he! Well, at least now Itachi would see she was right about him – not that this was enough to quell the embarrassment she was feeling. One saving grace was that Itachi dismissed Sasuke's words without even a glance in his direction.

"Sit down, Sasuke."

Ha! She thought, throwing a smug glance in his direction. He chose to believe me over you! As always Sasuke shrugged of his words before throwing his bag down and taking a seat near the back of the class. "Whatever you say, Itachi-sensei." He retorted, voice just dripping with sarcasm.

"Sorry about him, Sensei! Sasuke-kun's parents must have never taught him good manners." A laugh from behind her accompanied Ino's words though she couldn't see just what he found funny about them. Itachi deserved some explanation for his rude behaviour. The man's eyebrow raised as he glanced up at her - didn't he just look so sexy when he was sceptical? – before he spoke.

"Yes, I guess my brother could do with learning to be a little more polite."

My brother.

Brother.

Aiish, this most definitely was not Ino's day.