The academy wasn't what it used to be.

It used to seem bigger and cooler to me back when I attended, but now that I'm standing here, it seems so small and foreign.

Little children only about the age of seven were all in a neat little line as their Chūnin instructor lead and monitored them to the track.

A small smile crept on my face as one of the young girls looked over to me and smiled, and waved.

I waved in return, noticing a boy looking over to me, as well.

The little formation filed into the enclosed track, letting them out of my sight.

"It's been about nine years since we first started here." Said a deep voice.

I wasn't startled. I felt his presence from the moment he was there. Why let him know I acknowledged his presence if he knew as well as I did he was there?

"And we earned them five years back." I replied to him.

I looked up through the corner of my eye to see Kuromaru crouching down on a branch, marveling at our old school.

He chuckled. "Now look at us. We'll be Jōnin soon. We'll be protecting them and the rest of our village."

I smiled up at him. Kuromaru has always been a bit poetic.

His messy black hair wisped gently in the wind, revealing our village's symbol.

We took pride in the Leaf village. We would fight until the very end for it. As a matter of fact, that's exactly what we'd do and have done.

Just a year after we graduated from the academy, Kuromaru and I had another team mate in our cell. What I thought would be the greatest shinobi of our time would be loved his village more than he cared for himself and sacrificed himself.

Now, he has a replacement. One of which whom I regret to know.

Kuromaru hopped down from the branch and next to me. "Come on, Mariko, we have to meet up with Sensei. Enough memories for today."

-Meeting Place-

Masato was already waiting for us and Sensei on the bridge rail.

He chuckled under his breath when he saw us coming.

"Looks like I'm the early bird again." He rubbed in.

I rolled my eyes. I saw Hiro Sensei heading our way, his hands in his pockets as usual.

He was Kuromaru's uncle, it just so happens. They even have the same hair style. Sensei's eyes were green, though, instead of black like Kuromaru's. Sensei is actually just five years older than us, which is strange since usually most Jōnin sensei's start out in their mid or late twenties. He started out about our age, sixteen or seventeen. Not really good with math.

Sensei stopped by our group. "Good morning. I assume you all had good sleep last night, right?"

Kuromaru chuckled. "Not after you barged in my house and started a ruckus."

Sensei laughed a long. "Sorry, your mother is very persistant."

I shook my head, smiling a bit. "I don't even want to know."

Masato hopped off the railing. "So what mission are we doing?"

Hiro Sensei shook his head, smiling up a storm. "No mission. Hokage-dono wants us to take a break. We had an awfully long mission so we have this whole week off."

I became confused. "Then why are we here?"

He looked to me with his goofy smile. "We're going camping. The four of us. Won't that be fun?"

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Hiro Sensei, you'd have to be joking. We sleep outside enough on missions, but for free time? Why would I want to be stuck with you three on my free time when I could be shopping or helping my mother with something."

"Well, that's the problem. We never spend any free time with one another. We know each other, but yet we don't really know each other. In example, none of us knows anything about Masato-san. We just know he's a smart ass."

I cringed. This was only getting worse.

I shook my head. "No way, I'm out of this. You three have some guy time or something, but I am not going to spend a whole week, voluntarily, with the three of you."

I turned around and walked off. Kuromaru followed and I could hear Masato mutter bitch under his breath as Sensei sighed.

Kuromaru sat beside me at Ichiraku Ramen Bar and the old man served me my ramen.

"I don't want anything, thank you." He told the old man and then focused on me.

"You know, you have to accept Masato sooner or later. He's been on the team for almost two years. Cut him some slack." He pleaded.

I stirred my ramen a bit, frustrated. "Why? He wasn't an original member of Team 3. He's not even a very good shinobi. He stinks, just like his attitude. He let the assasin get away and let you almost die."

I shook my head. "He doesn't belong."

I ate some of my ramen as Kuromaru sat there, thinking.

I was already half done when he started up again.

"He can only belong if you let him. It's not his fault he's stuck with us. His whole cell died in front of his eyes. He's trying to cope, too. His lost is much more recent than ours."

I put my chop sticks down. I hated it when he pointed that out or refers to him makes me want to break down. Anything that ever refers to Yori is like a taboo to me.

"I don't want to talk about this anymore..." I muttered to him.

Kuromaru stood up, rubbing my back a bit. "Think about it, okay?"

He left me and for a few minutes, I just sat there.

I told the old man I was done so he took my bowl and billed me. I paid and headed home. I could tell today would be horrible.

I opened the front door and let myself in.

The house was silent. Mother must still be sleeping.

I unhooked my shuriken pouch from my hip and placed it on the hall way table.

There was a note on the desk.

I knew I would regret it, but I picked it up and read it. It was from Hiro Sensei.

We'll be leaving tomorrow. It's alright if you don't go, but I thought I'd let you know we'll leave at sunrise. Kuromaru and I would appreciate it if you saw us off. You never know if danger lies ahead.

~Hiro Takahashi

I rolled my eyes. "That won't work on me, Sensei." I mumbled under my breath.

I went to my room and changed into my civilian clothes, letting my brunette hair down and fluffed it a bit. It flowed down towards the bottom of my back, some of it resting on my shoulders.

I smiled. I felt like a feminine woman instead of a boyish brute. Being a kunoichi was wonderful and all, but I liked the normal girl side of me.

Grabbing my purse, I went into the kitchen and picked up the grocery list. I might as well start on my errands since I'll be doing nothing this week.

The market was very lively this morning. The more elderly people were chatting away to the shop keepers and fellow shinobi were walking the streets.

A whicker basket filled with all kinds of ingredients hung on my arm. I inhaled all of the aromas of the market, smiling to myself.

I went up to one of the stands, which had one of the other ingredients I needed.

I inspected the ginger carefully, seeing for myself to see if it would be good for tonight's dinner.

"Mariko-chan in a market? Well, this is strange." Said a familiar voice.

This time, I was startled.

I jumped, twisting around. Masato.

I glared at him. "What the heck!" I snapped at him.

He grinned. "Look at you. Traditional women's clothing, in the market doing errands. Outside of the shinobi world, you look like you have the potential to be a good wife."

I growled, turning around. I paid the shop keeper enough to take five gingers and put them in my basket, and walked away.

Masato followed. "So what are you making?"

I turned my head away from his, looking tall as I could with authority.

"How come I never see you around?" He asked.

Again, I ignored him.

He chuckled. He found it funny.

"Silent game, I see."

I only glanced at him, with a glare following, than returned to looking else where. Doing so, I stopped at my next destination at a new stand were I picked up a small bottle of sesame oil and paid that shop keeper, and kept on.

Masato watched me carefully. It was really starting to get on my nerves.

He followed me for another two stands. I had everything on my list. Finally.

I faced him. "Well. I'm done with my errands. Now I can go home and stay home, away from you. You can let Sensei know I will not see him or Kuromaru-kun off."

I walked passed him and started heading home. I still felt his chakra the whole way home.

When I got to my front door, I stopped and turned around, looking the direction he was. He was trying to hide behind a corner of the neighbors' house.

"Why are you trying to hide? You're such an idiot. You know I'm a sensor-type."

He revealed himself and walked over to me. He looked like he was full of curiosity. He kind of hovered over me.

"Why do you not like me?" He asked.

It sounded like he's finally lifted a burden off of himself. Like he was truly curious.

I huffed with agitation. "Because you're an idiotic moron who has no respect for anyone. You don't call someone a bitch and expect them to treat you kindly.

He suddenly looked embarrassed. "You heard that...?"

I shook my head, turning away from him and started to unlock my door. "You're ridiculous..." I muttered under my breath.

His chakra faded away. He finally left.

I walked inside my house and put the ingredients away.

I heard light footsteps come into the kitchen and I look to see my mother.

"You ran some errands?" She asked.

Nodding, I put the ginger up. "Yeah, thought I might as well start since I'm off this whole week."

I looked to her, she was cocking her eyebrow. "Really now? Your sensei stopped by earlier and told me you were all going to go camping. Why aren't you going?"

I sighed. "Because I have better things to do here rather than fooling around elsewhere."

She grinned. "Really? So you don't want to fool around with Kuromaru?"

I blushed, trying to look mad. "Why would I fool around with a team mate? It's not practical! I only associate with them on a business level."

No matter how hard I tried, mother always knew when I liked someone. And exactly knew who.

She remembers how I always crushed over the Kenji Uchiha back at the academy.

"You know, Kuromaru-kun does seem like a real nice boy. And why else would they set up only one girl to a cell? They do it to set us up. How else do you think I met your father?" She teased.

I looked down. "I don't want to marry a shinobi. There's too much of a risk."

Her happy mood disappeared. She realized she touched her own touchy subject and I only made it worse.

"Mariko, go to the camping trip. Your sensei even packed for you already."

That caught my attention.

"Sensei...? Packed my things...? As in... He touched my bras...?" I asked slowly, trying to imagine it.

I imagined him stretching my panties and making fun of my puppy-butt underwear.

She half-heartedly laughed, scratching the back of her head. "I guess it's too late to mention Kuromaru was also here..."

I gritted my teeth. "Miyazuki Aihime..." I called out, referring to her full name.

Hiro Sensei summoned all of us to the Supply Surplus Shop. Gee, I wonder what he wants.

Masato was just about to head into the store, but stopped in his tracks when he saw me.

"You actually came?" He snickered.

I put my snobby face on for size. "Yes, I did. Under the orders of my sensei."

He mocked me with his chuckle. "I see. Even though it will lead you to making you going camping with us?"

I pursed my lips. I glared to him. "Get out of my way." I pushed him aside and went on my way through.

Hiro Sensei and Kuromaru were both intensely looking at food packs, debating which ones they should get for their trip.

"I like the onigiri in this package, though. The other ones sucks." Kuromaru told sensei. He was sounding completely serious.

Rolling my eyes, I picked out a package and handed it to them. "If you're going to bicker and actually [i]debate[/i] what food to bring, at least being the quickest meal with the largest portion. It may not taste great, but that's what you get for not making your own food."

Kuromaru smiled with appreciation. "Thank you, Mariko-chan. This helps out a lot. But we'll miss your cooking on our trips. It won't be the same."

My face became a little flushed, but I kept my aloof expression. "Well, I'm sorry you'll miss it. If you would have stayed, I would have invited you to eat over at my place." I retorted.

He laughed. "You liar."

Sensei smiled, observing our conversation. "Either way, we'll all miss you. Your cooking or not, we like your presence."

I looked to sensei. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, Sensei, but you will not swindle me. I'm simply here to help you decide on what to pack for your trip."

I went over to the bait section without another word.

Masato stood close by in the fishing rod section. He paid no attention to me. I looked back to the live larvae, observing them all.

Finally, it was departure time. All I wore was my civilian clothing, wearing my hair in a ponytail.

Masato was check-listing that they had everything as Kuromaru hung around me and Sensei just simply watched.

"You sure you don't want to go? We'll wait while you go pack. It's not a problem." He suggested.

I smiled, shaking my head. "No, I'm not going to unpack again."

He grinned. "I saw your puppy-undies. You might as well go."

I frowned, full of embarrassment. "Well… Shut up. I'm not going and that's final." I explained. I felt so stupid now.

He sighed, then patted my head and petted it a bit. "Alright, if that's your final answer."

He removed his hand from my head, crossing his arms. "I expect a hardy meal when I come back, though. Strawberry filled onigiri and all."

I smiled. "It's the least I can do. Now just go before the sun comes out and starts frying you. Then I'll have to listen to you complain about your sun burn."

"Okay, then. Don't miss us too much." Kuromaru turned around to give Sensei a heads up that he was ready and Masato gave him a response as well, signaling they had everything.

"We'll see you Friday morning, alright, Mariko?" Sensei told me.

I nodded. "See you all then. Be careful, alright?"

Kuromaru and sensei both smiled. Masato just looked over to me with a blank expression, then back to the things to double check.

Ignoring Masato, I turned around and headed back to the village.

I felt their chakra disappear the farther I walked. Finally, they were out of my hair for a week.