Disclaimer: If I owned the Naruto series Itachi wouldn't actually be as psycho as he wants Sasuke to believe he is. I can still pray. Though, Naruto would be just as obsessively in love with Sasuke as he is now (whether platonic or not). At least Kishimoto is getting something right.
Author Note: I know my chapters have been annoyingly short previously. Honestly I had been too eager to update, hoping that doing so would somehow provide me feedback. I've realized that that way of thinking is seriously flawed. Seriously. Please forgive me, I'm new to fanfiction writing. So yeah, this chapter is me trying to redeem myself. I think it's a decent length. I hope. Sorry if the humor is comprised of one-hundred percent failure. I have bad taste in it. Though if you could stand the humor in the chapters before this one, I think you'll live through more (you're such a trooper, I salute you).
To SilentReaper: I think I love you. Seriously though, thank you so much for reviewing. I hope this chapter isn't overly horrible. Shika/Neji/Shika is one of my favorites too, second only to Kisame/Itachi. Nejishika seemed like such an obscure pairing to me at first, but upon further inspection they're just so skldfjsldbeautiful;fjsdflj! together. I love it.
Itachi POV:
"I am not going, leave me alone, Itachi." the muffled moan came from under pillows and bed sheets.
"Now little brother, it's only the second week of school. Father left me in charge and I don't think he will be happy if he finds out I let you skip already." My little Sasuke doesn't seem to want to get out of bed, this is certainly strange, he is usually set on outdoing me at everything, perfect attendance being one of those things.
It's Tuesday, and he didn't have a problem going to school yesterday. Come to think of it, the first day of school was last Tuesday and poor Sasuke seemed rather upset about something. He had shut himself in his room all afternoon and refused to eat any of the dinner I slaved over the stove to make for us. Personally, I think my culinary skills are quite refined, though Sasuke is most likely sour about that because mother allowed me to help her in the kitchen more often when we were younger. The most Sasuke was allowed to do was lick the spoon. I really do think he should get over that fit of jealousy, seeing as how he helps mother in the kitchen every chance he gets these days. It's a bit of a fun fact that I am saving to mention as soon as he has friends over for a visit, and though that has never happened before I have faith in my little brother to make friends someday.
"I don't care! I'm sick, okay?" Sasuke could be such a child when given the proper incentive. Though I do wonder what exactly that incentive is…
"My baby brother is so stubborn. Tell me, what is it about Tuesday that makes you cower under your covers?"
Sasuke shifts the pillow that is located over his head slightly so he can glare at me. "What makes you think it being Tuesday has anything to do with it?"
Bingo, that glare just gave me all the proof I need. "Oh, just a guess." I shrug causally and carefully sit down on the edge of his bed, placing my hand on his shoulder in an act I hope to be comforting. "What's bothering you little brother? I'm sure you are perfectly aware that you can share anything with me, even your deepest innermost thoughts and desires. All information will be held in strict confidence, of course."
Sasuke quickly sits up, pushing the covers and my hand off of him as he swings his legs over the side of the bed. "Okay, okay! I'll go! Just, please don't ever try to be a decent brother again, it's not in your nature at all."
I frowned "I was going for the motherly approach, honestly..."
Sasuke shuddered before standing up and walking to the door which he opened wide in a gesture that I assume means he wants me gone.
Slowly, as to annoy Sasuke further, I oblige, getting off of his bed and making my way through the door way, which gets slams closed behind me.
"Have fun at school today, little brother."
With that I headed towards the door having already prepared myself for the school day, my book bag waiting safely in my car. Once outside it's a short walk to the driveway and a long drive down it, after that though it's not too far to the school. After a unnecessary four and a half minutes down our all too long drive, I wonder if Sasuke will be okay today riding the bus. He always is, but I worry. I don't bother offering Sasuke a ride anymore, he has declined my gracious offerings to drive him every time since I was bought a car for my sixteenth birthday. This was due to jealousy again, I suspect. He reacts rather ridiculously to things I get from father and mother that he feels he doesn't. (Praise, attention, gifts…)
Sometimes it almost makes me wish mother and father had passed away a long time ago just so I could have a brother that doesn't hate me for reasons I can't control.
Well, that's not entirely true. Mainly, it is father's attention that makes Sasuke most jealous as it's harder to come by. If he were out of the picture…
Sigh. Thinking about these things makes me feel rather upset. I hope Sasuke is proud of himself for putting his only brother through such anguish.
Hope for a change in my mood is inspired when I pull into Konoha High's parking lot and spot the only likable teacher in the entire school fishing around for something in the trunk of his car.
Calmly I exit the car, shrugging my backpack onto one shoulder and shoving the keys into my pocket. He's a few rows ahead of me and more towards the school building, so it's easy to make it look as if I'm just casually walking past him to get into the building. As I approach his car I note he's still bending over into his trunk, completely unaware of me standing behind him admiring the view. I get bored after a minute or so of watching him, so I proceed to casually walk past him to move down the small aisle created by his and another car parked side to side. This is when he notices me, pausing his search and greeting me with the same kind politeness that he usually does.
"Ah, good morning Itachi, you're here early."
I pause and turn to face him, smiling ever so slightly and looking as if I hadn't known he were there when I first walked by. "I am. Though aren't teachers supposed to be here much earlier? If you are just getting here, no offense Mr. Hoshigaki, but I do believe you are late."
"Me? Late? For a date with you? Never." He teased, grinning.
"Don't be ridiculous. Dates with underage students could lead to the law being broken. I imagine that would be embarrassing for one of us. You know I wouldn't put you through that." I teased back, though my tone was far more serious than my teachers.
"Yeah, I suppose it would be embarrassing, considering the subject I teach now. Can't say a pretty young lady like yourself wouldn't be worth it though." He tossed me a showy wink and went back to shuffling through the papers in his trunk.
I knew I was smiling slightly to myself while I lingered by his car. Even I knew it was out of character for me to have such a stupid smile on my face. Well, not quite. Truthfully, it's only out of character when I'm not around him.
Kisame Hoshigaki was always so comfortable around me; the conversation between us was always light and easy. It was apparent that he didn't see me as every other adult saw me. He didn't think of me as Itachi Uchiha, the perfect student who threatened the intelligence of everyone on the planet. Itachi Uchiha who can get whatever he wants, including you fired. Kisame wasn't afraid to talk to me casually, to joke around with me, something the majority of people, especially teachers, were afraid of. This had taken me by surprise when I was in his government class in my first year of high school. It was just the kind of person he was though, equally friendly towards everyone.
His humor tends to be playfully cruel at times, something I find rather bold for a teacher due to how easily it could be taken the wrong way and result in the loss of his job. Mr. Hoshigaki never means any harm though; he is always popular with his students for not being afraid to sink down to their level while taunting them during class. At first I was annoyed by how his lessons were constantly lead off track to hypothetical conversation only loosely related to the topic due to his always humoring the less than intelligent questions he would get from students. After a while though I couldn't help but be amused and join in. I was honestly sad at the end of the year when I realized I wouldn't be in his class anymore.
This lead me to join the school swim team my sophomore year. At first I felt all too like a cat drowning in a puddle, but Mr. Hoshigaki is a great coach and I'm great at everything I do, so it worked out. Father didn't approve of me joining a sport at first, thinking that I need to focus only on academics, though after I briefly explained to him the positive effect physical activity can have on someone mentally, he accepted it. Although he is still far from approving of Mr. Hoshigaki after being required to go to one of the team's parent meetings (he would have met him before that if he had bothered to go to any of the parent teacher conferences in my freshmen year, but apparently those are below parents of gpa-over-4.0 students), because obviously a teacher with blue hair is less intelligent and a far less respectable man than one with natural colored hair. Personally, I like his hair. It's a dark blue so it looks almost normal, probably wouldn't even be noticeable if the way he spiked it up didn't draw so much attention to it.
"Ah-ha! I knew I had put them in here." Kisame said as he resurfaced from his trunk with a stack of papers.
I raised an eyebrow, carefully eyeing the stack "and here I expected you to drag out Deidara's lifeless body."
"No," the blue haired man began as he shut the trunk of his car with a slam. "I keep the sea of corpses in my minivan, you know, the one with the built in Jacuzzi on the hood. Actually, the corpses are soaking in the Jacuzzi. Sometimes I'll get pulled over by the law because mysterious fowl-smelling liquid sloshes over onto the road."
"I see. So does that mean I don't have to worry about Deidara setting fire to the contents of my locker today?"
"Unfortunately no, not by my doing at least. As we all heard, Tsunade was furious with him."
"I imagine so. The janitor couldn't have been too happy with having to scrape the clay habitat off of three-fourths of the music hall either." The entire thing had been rather impressive, but Deidara wasn't the brightest, and applying the clay directly to the tiled floor and pale colored walls of the hallway wasn't the smartest thing he has ever done.
"I just feel sorry for the birds." Kisame remarked, looking sullen.
"You don't feel guilty at all that he got into trouble by taking your advice in the first place?" I looked my teacher over as we began walking side by side towards the school building after he checked his watch and gestured that it was time to head in.
He shrugged. "I merely suggested that my class isn't a bus stop, and if he insists on sleeping he might as well leave and go do something he sees as being more appropriate for the last period of the day. Not my fault he took me up on that offer."
That reminded me that I still hadn't thanked him for taking up teaching the schools Personal Law class. "Mr. Hoshigaki." I paused just outside the door leading inside the building. No one was around yet, it was still about fifteen minutes too early.
Kisame paused as well, looking down at me with slight curiosity. "Hm?"
"Your class," I began, lacing my fingers together in front of me and tilting my head to the side slightly. I stared at the taller man intently "I could hug you."
The older man grinned, knowing that I was trying to express my complete and utter thankfulness in the fewest words possible. "The position was open." He offered shrugging.
"I missed being in your class."
"I know." Was his reply as he grinned at me for another few moments before adding "I kind of figured that you couldn't get enough of me after you tried joining the swim team having no experience or interest whatsoever."
I narrowed my eyes at him as he tapped his finger against his chin in mock thoughtfulness. "You know, I probably wouldn't have even given you a chance if you weren't so cute out there splashing around like a bag of kittens thrown off a bridge." He said as though he were reminiscing over a fond memory.
If I had been anyone else, I might have blushed. Even if it was just a joke.
"You know, I might not have joined if you didn't look so cute in your swimming suit."
Kisame laughed, raising his eyebrows and looking pointedly down at the area around the vicinity of my crotch. "Oh, trust me, I look nowhere as cute as you do in your drag suit."
At that I did feel my cheeks heat up a little, so I turned towards the doors and away from him, crossing my arms over my chest before speaking. "If Deidara were here I'm sure he wouldn't miss the opportunity to tell you to go directly to jail after having not passed Go and not having collected the two hundred dollars."
He laughed again "I assure you I have no intentions of ever playing Monopoly with you… with either of you, actually."
"I have to agree with you there, I'm almost afraid to see how Deidara might try and incorporate his 'art' into the game."
After Kisame merely nodded in agreement we settled into a silence. My back was still to him, but I could feel his eyes on me. I didn't mind in the least but it made me a bit uncomfortable after his previous words. Still, it wasn't that I minded or thought they were inappropriate; I just simply am not used to feeling embarrassment towards anything. The few times it does happen it's always around him.
I know most people might feel disturbed by a man more than ten years their senior, not to mention their teacher, talking with them in such a casual way that boarded on flirting. If being disturbed was the normal reaction, mine was the exact opposite. It's not as if I'm giving him any indication to stop teasing me like that anyway, since I respond in the same manner. I have never really been into the whole relationship drama scene, but if my exchanges with Kisame could be considered flirting then I can understand why other people enjoy this type of thing so much.
I felt two light pats on the top of my head as Kisame walked by to pull open the door and hold it open for me. I stared at him, wondering why he was treating me like a dog now (or perhaps a kitten?). The teacher bowed slightly and gestured inside with his free hand "After you, mademoiselle"
Rolling my eyes, I walked past him and through the doors. "Thank you, kind sir. You are quite the gentlemen."
The door audibly clicked shut and Kisame's footsteps could be heard following me down the hall. "Well, I have been told I am quite the charmer."
At his words I turned around, walking backwards down the near deserted hallway and nodding in agreement "Oh yes, you really are." I feigned swooning, fanning myself with a hand before turning sharply down another hallway without a backward glance towards my teacher.
"I expect you in my class last period, don't skip!" He called after me as a goodbye.
As if I would dream of it.
Hinata POV:
The class was so noisy that it was almost quiet. That might just be because my head is buried in my arms on top of my desk and I am paying their voices no attention in order to favor my thoughts. Its geometry class and I've finished the work a whole fifteen minutes ahead of schedule. I've always been decent in any math class I've taken and should probably be in a higher one by now but I guess I was just overlooked for gifted classes in middle school. I don't really mind. Though the possibility of getting far enough ahead to be able to catch up and be in the same class as Neji would be interesting. It's really too bad I'll never be able to catch up to him.
Speaking of Neji, he's been acting really strange as of late. I suspect the cause of his abnormal behavior has something to do with Shikamaru and possibly the girl who always sits next to me on the bus. He's quite persistent in badgering me with questions about them, mainly Shikamaru. I don't really know him very well other than through Kiba.
Kiba is one of my few friends; I met him in sixth grade when he very kindly offered me a place to sit at his lunch table. Lunch had always been awful for me because everyone sat with their friends and it felt really awkward having to sit at a table of strangers who most likely ended up telling you to go away because the seat is taken. It was often a very traumatizing experience for me and I would always feel like crying and sitting on the floor to eat. Luckily I only had to go through two weeks of that before Kiba had called out something along the lines of "Hey girl! You look like a lost puppy, you can come sit on my lap and I'll share my food with you if you're good!" Thinking back on that now, if I hadn't been so innocent and oblivious to the childish vulgarity of what he was saying, I would have probably been even more traumatized than I already was. It turned out alright though, because a very heroic blond boy had hit Kiba over the head and apologized for him before pulling out a chair at their table for me like a gentlemen.
That blond boy, Naruto, has been my hero in more ways than one since that day. Admittedly, we don't really talk to each other much, but I listen to him talk to others at the lunch table and whenever I am invited to go with them to places. If he ever notices someone giving me trouble he'll intervene, and if there's no one else around for him to talk to, he'll talk to me. So I'm happy. He's even the reason Neji is more considerate and nicer to me now, though Neji still harbors a small grudge towards me. It's really amazing that Naruto could change the closed minded way Neji used to think; Neji is not often affected by what people do or say to him. This is also why it's amazing that he's so… interested in Shikamaru. I really want to ask him about it, but I know he'll just ignore me or skillfully avoid the question if I tried.
I am pulled from my thoughts when there is a light tap on my shoulder. Instantly I jerk into a sitting position with my head up and turned towards the direction of the poke. My line of vision is filled with shiny bowl-cut hair and pouting lips. I recognize the boy as Lee, one of Neji's friends.
"Hinata Hyuuga, have you already finished?"
"Y-yes, did you need help Lee?"
"Ah! You remember me! My heart is filled with joy and relief! I would be honored if you would explain how to get angle QSP for question number six!"
"Sure thing," my eyes fall to my own completed paper for a moment before meeting Lee's again. "S-since they are adjacent they're supposed to form a straight line b-because, see it says here to find the missing angles in the linear pair?" Lee looks a bit lost already as I lean over the aisle to point at the directions on his paper. "Basically u-um the two angles are supposed to equal one hundred and eighty degrees. S-so see the angle measure they already gave you?" I point again at his paper.
"…AH! This is truly genius! So I subtract this number from one eighty and I get the other angle?"
I nod. Lee quickly solves the problem; we compare answers just to make sure. Upon getting it right, Lee stands up and hops over the right side of his desk and into the aisle to the left of my desk. "I cannot thank you enough for your help!" Lee quickly wraps his arms around me in a too tight hug. I try to stutter an "R-really Lee it's no problem" but the lack of air stalls me and he is quickly ushered back to his seat by the teacher before I get a chance to react properly.
He smiles sheepishly at me from his desk and mouths a silent 'thank you', I manage to wave my hands in a gesture of 'oh, no don't worry about it' before the bell rings and he's out the door before anyone else.
I wonder where he's so eager to get to before I realize that he's also in my next class. Gym. I heave a sigh and slowly pack my things as my heart starts beating faster. It's the understatement of the century to say that I don't enjoy that class. I've gotten used to the having to change in front of other people part as well as the getting hit with things all the time part. It's the constantly having to be in teams and have partners part that I don't enjoy. Gym teachers usually always seem to split everything by gender, making the boys play together and have the girls in a separate game. This wouldn't be a problem for me but all of the friends I have are male and… it's just really awkward having to ask someone I don't know to partner up with me. It's sort of like the lunch thing. Everyone already has people they can pair with, and it just feels really horrible being the odd one out. I know I have friends and I'm not really alone, but I can't stop feeling as if I'm going to burst into tears whenever the teacher orders for us to get into groups. Or at least that's how it was in middle school; I can only hope this teacher will be different. I've been lucky so far because last weeks gym classes were great since we didn't actually do anything, but the actual physical part was supposed to start to day.
When I arrive at the gymnasium the teacher (who has proclaimed that it makes him feel more youthful if we just address him as 'Gai') is directing everyone towards the back of the rather large room where the stairs leading down into the separate gender locker rooms are located. I follow the rest of the girls down into the locker room feeling glad that I remembered to bring my gym uniform today. The uniform was simple and consisted of a lose fitting white and green tee-shirt with the school logo (some sort of swirly leaf) on it. The shorts are also a grassy green color, they are a little less conservative than I would usually wear, only coming down to a little above mid-thigh, but they were wearable I guess.
Once in the locker room, I pressed my back against the wall and looked around for a somewhat secluded place. The room was fairly large and tan colored lockers (only tall enough to be just above everyone's heads) split the whole thing into about fifteen or so rows with benches in the aisle of each row. There also appears to be doorway at the far end of the room that leads into another which contains the showers. I really doubt anyone actually uses those though since I don't think showering is required anymore, thank goodness.
I opt for waiting until the crowed thins out some before finding a place to change. Once almost everyone seems to have left I carefully wander down the main aisle, subtly looking down the aisles between the lockers hoping to find one that's vacant. As I approach the end of the room there's hardly anyone around and just as I'm about to go down one of the empty aisles to change, I abruptly stop because of the sound of hushed voices coming from one row up. As I inch closer and listen harder I realize they must be arguing.
"I'm not going to let you go until you tell me exactly what you did with him, little girl." A high feminine voice hissed.
"With who!? And watch what you call me, bitch." That voice I recognized as the girl that occupies the other half of my bus seat every morning, Tayuya.
"Don't play dumb, you know who-" after recognizing Tayuya's voice, I quickly recall who the other voice must belong to, a girl named Kin who has been constantly ruffling Tayuya's feathers since last Tuesday.
Tayuya cut the other girl off. "No, I don't have a fucking clue, that's kind of why I asked you dumbass."
Kin sighed in exasperation "Zaku."
There was a pause before Tayuya spoke up sounding almost as if she were speaking to herself "So that's what this is about."
"Yes, now that we understand each other… explain. Now. I want to hear you say it." The venom in Kin's voice was followed by a soft shuffling of feet and light thump against the lockers.
When Tayuya spoke, her voice sounded strained, almost a little frantic. "If you're looking for some fairy tale about the whole incident then you're talking to the wrong person. The fucker tripped me and then tried to save himself from an ass kicking by inviting me inside to offer me bandages and Neosporin."
"Like I would believe that! You might as well have said he lured you into his house with candy!"
"Either way the one waving the candy in the little girl's face is the one at fault." Tayuya's tone was still off, kind of like she was being forced to talk.
I willed myself to peek around the row of lockers just to make sure no one was being held at gunpoint just in time to see Kin angle what appeared to be a box cutter more towards Tayuya's jugular. Her back was to me and she had Tayuya pinned successfully to the metal lockers. The hand Kin held the blade in was shaking in what I'm guessing was anger. Apparently Tayuya didn't know when to quit because she added "I would be questioning why you're so damn pissed off and jumping to conclusions, but honestly I see why he would want to cheat on you. You're a fucking crazy bitch, I'm glad you seem to understand that though."
Kin jerked Tayuya roughly forward only to slam her back against the lockers again, the hand containing the box cutter was shaking even more violently now, liable to slip at any given moment. What was Tayuya thinking, she was in no position to be taunting the other girl like that! I noticed how badly I too was shaking, though for an entirely different reason, just as I realized I was the only one around. I have to do something. Tayuya is in trouble and a small amount of blood is trickling down her neck and soaking into her shirt, and Kin is shouting something and I can't even make out the words because I'm taking a step forward and I don't know what I'm doing and I'm so f-fucking afraid.
I tell myself to be like Naruto, be brave like him. But I'm no fool, I know I'm not brave like him, I can't rush in and save the day like he would- like almost anyone else would. As I walk into the center of the aisle the two girls are in and their heads turn towards me, my lack of bravery is only confirmed. It's too late to back out now though. My mind goes blank, I don't know what to do and even if I did I know I wouldn't be able to actually do it. So I do the only thing I can think of: what I originally came for.
I force myself to smile sheepishly at them, uttering a quick "H-hello T-Tayuya. Kin."
Noting the surprise in both of their features I drop my gaze to the bench at my feet, setting my backpack on it. I unzip one of the compartments with trembling fingers as Kin hisses something not meant for my ears. I couldn't make out what she was saying and I could barely even register the sound of her footsteps departing down the opposite end of the aisle, my heart was pounding too loudly in my ears. It made me feel sick.
I pulled my gym shirt from my bag despite the violent shaking of my hands. I knew I shouldn't be so nervous and scared anymore, Kin was gone. I just couldn't help it. Part of me couldn't even believe I was here a few feet away from where they had been. I knew I had done nothing heroic, it wasn't even a big deal by normal standards, but I just couldn't stop my heart from pounding and my knees from wanting to collapse under me.
A light tap on my shoulder caused me to jerk my head up.
"You." Tayuya greeted, standing before me absently rubbing her neck with one hand.
I stared wide-eyed at the blood being smeared by her fingers "N-n-n y-your n-neck." I managed to say rather dumbly. I knew my shaking and quick breathing (bordering on hyperventilation) was obvious. Being aware of how weak and stupid I looked caused my probably pallid complexion to gain some color.
The older girl snorted. "This? It's only a tiny slice. Sorta like a cat scratch maybe. Only it's being real overdramatic and bleeding more than it ought to." She looked me over for a moment. "I'm more worried about you. You look like you're about to pass out, what the hell is-"
"I'm fine." I cut her off as I fumble to unzip my jacket. Proving I can do normal things like change clothes is an example of being fine, right? My hands are still shaking so badly that as soon as my jacket is off I can't even hold on to it and it falls to the floor. I stare at it for a moment, almost not believing that I had dropped it.
Chancing a glance up at Tayuya, I notice she's watching me skeptically so I decide to leave the jacket where it is and work on removing my shirt. I fumble with it and somehow manage to pull it off after only a moment or three of struggling. Tayuya is still watching me. This causes my cheeks to flush an even deeper red, partly from the embarrassment of being watched, and partly from the fact that my bra is admittedly childish, having kittens printed on it as well as frills and small ribbon bows along the edges. Discreetly covering up the embarrassing lilac colored undergarment, I reach for my gym shirt. Trying to tug it on with one not so stable hand I find is a rather difficult task for me.
Tayuya heaves an annoyed sigh, apparently fed up with my failure to put on a shirt properly. My gym shirt is abruptly snatched from my grasp. I look at the girl before me questioningly.
"Arms up." She instructs in a way that allows no room for objections.
Hesitantly I raise my arms over my head. Tayuya steps closer in order to slip the shirt on for me. Her body is only a few inches away from being flush against mine. The close proximity is causing my face to heat up even more. My body jerks slightly when I feel her hands running down my sides. My mind races franticly trying to come up with reasons why she would be doing that. It takes me a minute to realize she's just trying to smooth down my shirt.
Stepping back Tayuya looks me over with a small smile etched into her features. I want to look down at my feet where it is safe but I can't seem to tear my gaze away from her face. She was really pretty when she smiled, I had never noticed before. Probably because I don't think I've ever seen her smile. I was disappointed when her expression turned to a mix of surprise and horror.
"Shit! Your shirt, I didn't mean to!" she slapped her forehead repeatedly "I'm such a fucking idiot!!"
"W-wha…?" upon looking down I instantly knew what she meant. Blood from her fingers had been smeared on various places all over my shirt. "O-oh! It's no big deal, r-really."
"Good! It better not be because I didn't fucking mean it and that would be pretty shitty of you to hate me for something I didn't do." Tayuya glared accusingly, she didn't trust me not to be upset with her.
"I-I'm not Kin." I smiled at her reassuringly. Tayuya looked taken aback. She seemed to be searching my words for double meaning, so I elaborated. "It isn't h-hard to hear the gossip going around about you, T-Tayuya. I k-know what Kin and the others have been saying a-and I don't t-think you should be-" my words abruptly ceased when I was roughly shoved backwards.
"You don't think I should be what!? Ashamed!? Ha, and for a moment there I thought you were different. How fucking wrong I was. You're just like the rest of those shitheads, easily believing anything you hear without even-"
"N-no! You m-misunderstood!" The anger and betrayal in the girl's voice had caused me to back up against the cool metal lockers. I poke my fingers together nervously as I open my mouth to explain further before she gets the wrong idea. "Y-you shouldn't be g-getting so upset over what they're s-saying. A-anyone who believes lies about you and then goes spreading them around even more like it's the latest t-trend isn't worth y-your time."
The anger radiating from Tayuya drains somewhat, though I can tell she's fighting it. She clearly believes that I'm just trying to say what she wants to hear in order to escape a potential beating. That information both frustrates and relives me. At least I am saying the right thing.
"Don't fucking say that as if I don't already know."
"I'm sorry…" I look down awkwardly feeling like there's something more I should say. I've already used up my courage quota for the day and giving words of comfort now is beyond my skill level.
Tayuya sighs in defeat, no longer able to stay angry (probably due to how pitiful I look). "Look, we're already a good fifteen minutes or so late. We should probably try to come up with an excuse for why we were down here so long."
I had no idea how it was possible to forget you had a gym class to attend while you could hear the clattering of footsteps and balls bouncing on the gym floor overhead, but it happened. "B-but what could we possibly…?"
Tayuya smirked "Well, I'm currently bleeding. We could always say I got cut somehow and you were helping me clean and bandage it."
"It's n-not clean and bandaged though… I d-don't carry bandages on me e-either…" I pointed out hesitantly.
She shrugged "Then you were in the middle of it and ended up fainting from being around the wound for too long. Can you pretend to be unconscious?"
"W-what?"
"I'll carry you up, explain, and say I have to take you to the nurse's office. Only we won't actually go."
The whole plan sounded a bit overdramatic, but what other excuse could we use to get both of us out of trouble? Actually, it was me that didn't have any possible excuse by myself. Tayuya was the one helping me. "O-okay…" I agreed, still hesitant.
"Alright, but you're shaking like a leaf, girl. That'll give it away that you're not really unconscious." At that she wrapped her arms around me, pulling me close into a warm embrace. "Calm down. Why are you so nervous? If I was going to hurt you I already would've, and Kin isn't down here waving that pathetic excuse for a weapon around anymore, so what's the deal?" she spoke softly, one of her hands rubbing soothing circles on my back in attempt to sooth my nerves.
The whole situation was making me even more nervous. I would have been hyperventilating if my breath hadn't hitched and stopped altogether. It wasn't that I was completely uncomfortable and didn't like her embracing me, it just made me afraid. She was so close, it made me worry about a million different things, like if I smelled bad, if the trembling was bothering her and if she was uncomfortable.
I'm not used to getting hugs, at least not his kind. Usually they are just quick hugs of thanks. I have never been fully comforted like this since I was a child. Even then I would be sobbing into my mother's shoulder; not feeling my knees get weak and my face get hot like I had just seen Uzumaki Naruto showering.
Tayuya chuckled, her breath fanning across my ear. I flinched. She had to be aware of the effect she was having on me but she continued to hug me for another long moment or two. My only guess as to why is that maybe she needed the hug even more than I did.
Pulling back finally, Tayuya grinned. "I guess we could just say you're in shock instead." That was my only warning before the other girl hoisted me up to carry me bridal style. I squeaked as she lifted me, wrapping my arms around her neck and clinging to her.
As Tayuya began walking towards the stairs leading up to the gym, I could only pray that this worked.
Neji POV:
Screw stress balls, screaming into pillows, punching walls, and various other forms of stress relief; glaring holes into the back of Shikamaru Nara's head was more satisfying by far. For the past week my thoughts have not been able to stop drifting towards the lazy brunette, it infuriated me to no end. Why am I so hung up on him anyway, because he felt me up in his sleep? That only happened once and he hadn't even been conscious at the time. So I can't use being annoyed at him for having the hots for me as an excuse. In fact, because I can't seem to get the other boy off my mind it would seem more likely that I'm the one that has that has the hots for him.
If I hadn't known first hand that that particular notion is completely ridiculous, I might have believed it.
Though, perhaps I am just too convinced I am asexual to believe I actually might have enjoyed Shikaruru's hand roaming up my shir- fuck, I just gave him some sickening pet name while referring to him in my thoughts again, didn't I? I'm starting to become more pissed off at myself than anyone else. I'm even going to admit that it's my own fault and not blame it on the peaches and cream instant oatmeal I had at Lee's house on Sunday (I'm not above believing that everything Lee owns is laced with some sort of happy drug). This is really unlike me, I've never been infatuated with anyone before.
This didn't make any sense. Until a week ago on the bus I had been thoroughly convinced that I was simply asexual. I knew for sure I wasn't interested in girls, my friend Tenten had already proven that much for me. Back in Jr. High she had been all over me (which had been highly annoying. Why exactly I even consider her a friend now is a long story), and it never once had even the slightest effect on me other than urging me to shove her off. It's not as if her breasts were simply defective either, as the majority of the female population has fawned over me for years, leaving the chance breast malfunctioning highly unlikely.
As for being interested in guys, I've had my fair share of male attention as well. The closest I've ever come to being attracted to a guy (other than Shikamaru, who I am still trying to be in denial about) is in my eighth grade year when Naruto Uzumaki somehow pinned me to the ground and punched me in the face, shouting nonsense about how my views about life were fucked up. Long story short, his nonsense successfully shattered those views. If it wasn't for him I probably would never have been able to be so honest with myself. Though the feelings I harbor for the blonde are more like respect and gratitude rather than attraction. It's definitely good that I don't feel that way towards Naruto because I don't think I would ever be able to make that sort of relationship work with someone so unlike me in personality.
My interest in Shikamaru I don't understand at all. I know next to nothing about him. There's no reason for me care to know him at all, but I want to. I want to so badly that I can't get him out of my head. It doesn't make sense, and I wish I could turn those thoughts off but I can't. Going the weekend without being able to see him in class was torture, so much so that I subjected myself to spending time with Lee just for a distraction. It hardly helped. So I've come to the conclusion that for whatever reason, I'm curious about what makes the boy tick. And as far as I'm concerned, curiosity is just as liable to kill the cat if they just let it eat away at them and don't feed it. I figure I might as well try and talk to him as soon as I gain reason to.
I snap out of my thoughts when the overly bright florescent lights of the classroom are switched on, filling the previously dark room with light. While I was in health class supposed to be watching some video on steroids, I had been deep in thought watching the Nara boy sleeping at the table in front of me. When the video finished and the lights were turned on, Shikamaru lifted his head groggily, mumbling something and scratching the back of his head. Oh, how I wish I were at the proper angle to see his 'what the hell, why am I awake. The light hurts my eyes.' expression.
The health classroom was set up with small tables in rows instead of single desks. Each table seated three on one side, the chairs only being placed along one length of the tables so that everyone would be facing towards the front of the class. I was seated at the far right of my table, in front of me at the next table up Shikamaru sat directly in front of me. Beside Shikamaru sat Naruto, and beside him some boy I only knew by name, Sai. There was only myself and one other seated at my table, Sasuke Uchiha, who was sitting at the other end of the table (having left an empty chair between us).
The health teacher, a white haired man by the name of Jiraiya, began to explain the assignment he wanted us to complete having watched the video. "Alright so here's the scenario, don't bother me on the details I don't care if they're realistic or not, that's not the point of this exercise. You've just been hired into a promising career on a professional basketball team. If you take steroids you'll make millions of dollars, but if you don't you'll make less than one-fourth of that. You are never caught doing them, so there is zero risk of jail time. I want a one page paper-" at this several people in the class groaned "-on whether or not you would choose to take the steroids. List pros and cons of doing versus not doing them to help you. Also, I'm requiring you to work in pairs. One of you must write your paper about why you would choose to do steroids, and the other must write one against doing them. You're just in pairs to make sure I get enough people answering both ways, but you should be helping each other so you both know everything. Yes, Naruto, each of you have to do one page. That's two pages. You have until the end of the period to work with partners. If you don't get finished you can work on it at home and turn it in tomorrow." At that the teacher turned around and busied himself the television while the students moved to find partners.
Well, I suppose this is my cue to talk to Shikamaru. I lean across the table and give a sharp tug to the back of his ponytail. The boy ducks and covers, moving his arms to shield his head and ducking down until he's all but under the table. He doesn't even turn around to see who the culprit is, only supplying a hesitant "…E-eh?"
"I need a partner."
At my words Shikamaru takes his time turning around towards me, arms still poised to shield his head from harm. Shikamaru looks me over, probably trying to figure out why I was asking him in the first place. I kept my expression unreadable and stared evenly back at him.
"…Why- er. I would man, but I wasn't exactly on the edge of my seat watching that video." He spoke carefully, his eyes calculating. He probably thought it was better to gauge my reactions to figure out why I was talking to him at all, rather than asking me directly.
"That's fine," I assured. "I also wasn't paying attention. All we need to know are the pros and cons of taking steroids. That was listed at the beginning before I lost interest. So I know them."
Finally, Shikamaru lowered his arms to rest on the back of the chair, using them as a pillow while he was half turned in his seat gazing at me. "So basically we just have to explain whatever position we choose using the pros and cons as examples." He sighed heavily. "That shouldn't take more than a few paragraphs. I hate it when they make us drag things out just to fit in the ridiculous length they require. Boring and pointless."
I shrug. "So make it not boring." Shikamaru just yawns and stares at me. I take that as indication to elaborate. "All that really matters is that you include all of the facts. Other than that it's just useless personal information, morals and such as to why you personally would or wouldn't take them. As far as that goes, it doesn't matter what you put. You can-"
"Make it interesting." He finished for me. Yawning again he added "Too troublesome."
"You were the one complaining about it being boring." I remind him. "No matter, you write yours on the prompt that you want to take the steroids. I'll do the other."
"W-wait why do I have to do that one?" Shikamaru asks me wearily, suspecting I may have some sort of ulterior motive.
I can't help the smirk that graces my lips. "Clearly it'll be more interesting to write."
Naruto POV:
Health class. I very well may be one few people who don't see it as some obscure form of punishment through extreme embarrassment. It's my favorite class once it gets to the Sex education part. Right now less exciting things are being taught, but it'll get to the good stuff eventually.
That's how I used to view health class anyway; right now I'm not so sure if I will be able to stand not skipping it everyday. Actually, no. I won't skip. You won't catch Naruto Uzumaki running away from anything! And that includes a bastard that gets off on pissing me off.
Sai. I hated the guy's guts a total of twenty seconds after meeting him. I could only stand him that long because it took me a little bit to realize why he had seated himself on the ground in front of the bench I was sitting on rather than beside me. The first day of school had been on a Tuesday for some reason, and that just happened to be the day that I had previously picked to dress according to the bet I lost. So I was waiting at the bus stop, totally not remembering that girls close their legs when they sit. Luckily I caught on quickly because of the stupid smile Sai had plastered on his face. I tried to cure that annoying smile with a kick to the face, but no, he was still smiling even after his nose was gushing blood.
The guy just wouldn't leave me alone. He sat behind me once on the school bus and bothered me the entire ride. I know the bastard knows that I'm a guy, but he keeps trying to insist I'm not. It was a huge insult my masculinity. I kept tryin' to tell him that I have a dick (it's kinda hard to miss, I mean come on, it's huge, no, gargantuan!) but he wouldn't stop arguing the point. I'm only in three classes with him since he's probably some sorta brownnoser and in all AP classes. So we're just in Health, Gym, and Art together. All three classes are required for credits or something (Gym is a personal favorite and Health can be funny, Art is the only odd one. I guess I don't mind it since it's an easy class but I'm not really all that interested in it). So all throughout these classes, on the bus, in the hallways and at the bus stop Sai wouldn't leave me alone. I felt like I had a stalker. I always thought havin' a stalker would be sorta neat since they'd be all obsessed and thinking you're god and stuff. But Sai is just creepy. Or at least that's how he was last Tuesday.
Once I started dressing like normal again he completely ignored me and wouldn't give me the time of day. He acted like the whole stalker thing hadn't even happened for the rest of the week! Monday he acts like I'm just any other person too, but then Tuesday rolls around again and he's back to pissing me off! I don't know what game he's playing, but it isn't funny!
His behavior pisses me off even more because I don't even know him. He must've just moved here from somewhere else because I woulda seen him before around the area if he lives close enough to have the same bus stop as I do. So it's either he's new here or he went to a different middle school and just stays inside all the time. I wouldn't doubt that he never sees the light of day seeing as how he's like, vampire pale. His complexion totally just adds to his overall creepiness. Speaking of which, his skin seems to almost glow in the dark classroom. So it's really creepy when I feel a hand on my shoulder and look over to see Sai leaning towards me to say something.
"Pay attention to television Naruto, this information could be useful to you." Sai whispers, his lips way too close to my ear. His expression is that of fake concern as he nods his head towards the television in the front of the classroom before scooting his chair even closer to mine than it already is. He leans his head on my shoulder and goes back to watching the video himself. I'm just about to shove him off when I realize what the video is talking about. The side effects of a woman taking steroids. "I know you're obsessed with the manliness you don't possess, Naruto. I know taking steroids to become manlier may be tempting for you, but chest and facial hair growth is just going too far, honey." Sai muttered, running a finger down my arm causing me to shiver involuntarily.
I growled, thoroughly pissed off and feeling violated at this point. Just as I open my mouth to shout at him I hear the word 'clitoris' and sharply turn my attention towards the TV. Wow. Apparently taking steroids can cause a woman's clitoris to enlarge into the size of a small penis.
My fit of laughter is quickly cut off by Sai. "Oh! So you weren't lying when you told me you had a penis!" his voice was filled with wonder.
I'd had enough. "Fuck you Sai," I growl before roughly shoving him away from me. I would have kicked his ass at that point, but I really don't want to get into trouble this early in the school year. So I have to resist. Okay I lied. I'm mainly resisting because they might start showing diagrams of said enlarged womanly flesh and I can't risk causing a scene and havin' the old pervy teacher kicking me outta class.
"No thank you Naruto. As much as I like you, I just don't think a girl penis so small could get me off." Upon kicking the bastard under the table, his smile broadens. "Unlike the picture of you using the men's restroom I took last week." I could only gape at him, my cheeks heating up. "Oh, no worries. It's just a photo of you from the back. My favorite angle," I catch his wink even though the lights are off. "No offense Narubaby, but you're flat like a little boy up front."
"Just shut the hell up." I mutter, crossing my arms over my chest. What the hell was his problem? Moreover, what the hell is my problem? I try to convince myself that my face is red from anger at being forced to visualize disturbing things involving a not very… dressed Sai. While I silently fume, the boy in question says nothing else. Or, if he did, I didn't hear him.
Soon enough the video is over and the room is flooded with light. The old guy explains what we're supposed to do with the assignment. The perv shot me down when I got all excited to hear that I could just mooch off my partner. Siiiigh. A whollleee page.
Sai immediately starts tugging on my sleeve when we are set free to choose partners.
"No. Get away from me, I'm not being your partner."
"But we do everything together." Sai says this as if it's the most obvious thing ever.
"Uh. No we don't."
"But I walk you to class everyday."
"You chase after me! And what's this 'everyday' thing!? You've not said anything to me since last Wednesday, not counting today." I glared at him hoping that it didn't sound like I actually cared if he ignored me or not. Well, I guess I kind of do. Being ignored pisses me off even more than being harassed.
"That's because you weren't here Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Monday." He pouted.
"Quit playing dumb asshole."
"But Narubaby I'm not-"
"Whatever, Sai. I don't care." I turn my back to the boy in favor of talking to the boy on my other side. "So Shikamaru which parts of the paper are we doing?"
My lazy friend shifted his head, which was resting on his arms, to look at me. "Sorry, but there's no we," he shrugged his shoulders slightly. "That guy over there is holding me hostage and forcing me into doing slave labor." Shikamaru turned his attention back towards Neji.
I made a noise of disapproval. I'm sure a little whining could change his mind-
"Hey. Moron."
"What!?" I snapped turning towards the voice. Oh. Sasuke.
"Get up."
"Why should I, bastard!?"
"You're moving your seat." Sasuke said, staring blankly at me from where he was standing at the end of the table.
"No I'm not. Why the hell would I want to move my seat?"
"So we can get this done before the end of class."
"We." I stated oh so intelligently.
"Yes. Now hurry up, you're going to take all day to write it as it is."
"…What makes you think I want to work with you anyway?" What I really want to know is what makes him think he wants to work with me. Seriously, what's gotten into him?
Sasuke's features betray a hint of emotion, anger, frustration and maybe something else, as his eyes flicker briefly over to Sai (who had walked across the room to sharpen his pencil). "Is there someone else you would rather be working with? Hyuuga seems to have gotten to Nara first." By the time he finished speaking he had schooled his expression back into one of uncaring.
"Not really but I still don't want to work with someone like you."
"Whatever," Sasuke starts walking back towards his own seat. "It's not like you would be able to finish by tomorrow anyway. You're too much of an ADD idiot."
"Take that back you bastard! I so could finish by the end of class if I wanted to!"
"That's in less than a half an hour. There's no chance in hell for someone like you."
"When I say I can I fucking mean it!"
Sasuke snorts "Right. I would cook you homemade ramen like a housewife before you ever could finis-"
"DEAL!" I barely had to hear the word 'ramen' before I was out of my seat and enthusiastically dragging it over to the end of Sasuke's table. I would have taken the empty seat in between Neji and where Sasuke was sitting, but Shikamaru was now occupying it.
"…"
"I cannot wait to see you complete in housewife attire, slaving over a ramen bowl for me! Talk about blackmail material!" Sasuke had yet to take his seat; he was probably disturbed at how quickly I had whipped out a pencil and paper, writing faster than I ever have in my life. Hah, this is great. He'd never be able to back out of this if I fulfill the qualifications. His pride wouldn't let him go back on his word, especially after I've been dressing like a chick once a week just like I had said I would.
I never thought it would've been possible, but Sasuke Uchiha had actually made my day. Girly clothes and creepy stalkers had threatened to ruin it, but out comes warrior waitress Sasuke here to serve ramen and kick ass. Well, the ass kicking part hadn't happened yet, but it made everything sound cooler.
Author's note: And this is the part where I resist begging for reviews. Even thought I pretty much just did. You get the idea.
