*IMPORTANT* Sorry for the 2.5 month hiatus! I've been researching and writing my new story Kokoro no Hana (ItaSaku, consider reading if you haven't already)…among other things xD. Don't worry, updating this story is still high on my priority list- I love it just as much as some of you have said you do ^^. I might have to go three, even four months without updating, but I won't forget about it.

Thanks to EmpressofEvilBunnies for story development help (I'm using your suggestions in a later chapter), and thanks to everyone who reviewed, favorited, or alerted this story.

OOOOOOO

Session Two

"I feel real fucking special" – Hidan.

It was only 7:45 a.m., but Sakura already knew it was going to be a terrible day. She'd been so worried about how she was going to explain away the first blemish on her once spotless disciplinary record that she'd forgotten to put her Honors English essay in her schoolbag. She'd have to take a ten point deduction for lateness, even though she'd stayed up most of the night to finish it on time.

And if I don't manage to get this damn locker open in the next five minutes, I'm going to be late for Biology as well, she thought as she fumbled with the lock. Sakura didn't usually have trouble opening her locker, but today even the simplest of tasks was proving a monumental challenge for her sleep-deprived brain.

Just as her locker finally clicked open, Sakura heard someone slam her locker shut with a gusty sigh. She looked up to see that the locker slammer was none other than Kin Tsuchi, one of Ino's lackeys. Kin was joined by her friend Tenten and the queen bee herself. Snatches of their conversation reached Sakura's ears as she gathered up her textbooks. They seemed to be discussing their grades, which was odd since none of them were particularly studious. Ino herself seemed to be content with Bs, just high enough to maintain her position as Vice President of the Student Council. Sakura knew that Ino didn't really care about the Student Council, but she'd applied for the office because it would give her an excellent opportunity to get closer to Sasuke. When Sakura had run against Ino, she'd had several good ideas about how to improve the school's student programs. She'd been naive enough to think that the woman with the best platform would prevail, and her loss had opened her eyes to the realities of politics. The pretty and the popular win every time.

Against her better judgment, Sakura found herself straining to make out what the popular girls were saying.

"-was failing math, so the asshole made me join the Mathletes," Kin complained.

Ino took out her compact and rolled her eyes as she began applying lipstick. "Seriously? That's so lame."

"I know, right? What am I going to do? I don't speak Geek."

"Ask Sakura, maybe she can help you out with that," Tenten said suddenly, flipping her long, silky brown hair over her shoulder.

Ino and Kin turned to stare at her and Sakura blushed.

Ino's eyes narrowed. "Didn't your mother ever tell you that it's rude to eavesdrop on other people's conversations?"

"I- I didn't mean…"

"Whatever, loser. Let's go," Ino said, addressing Kin and Tenten.

Sakura watched Ino walk away, wishing things had turned out differently. She had never wanted to cause a rift between them. Of course, it was much too late to do anything about it now. She'd gone one way and Ino had gone another.

OOOOOOO

The warning bell rang, startling Sakura out of her reverie and causing her to scurry down the hall to Biology. Focusing on the lesson was unusually difficult while simultaneously trying to fight a losing battle with her eyelids. It wasn't long before she felt Ayame-sensei's cool hands shaking her awake. Fortunately, she believed Sakura when she said she was sick and allowed her to go to the nurse's office.

Shizune knew better. After all, she had to deal with dozens of students who stayed awake into the wee hours of the morning and then tried to catch up on sleep during class. But since it was the first time Sakura had come to the nurse's office for such a reason, Shizune decided to let her sleep through the rest of the period.

Sakura woke at the sound of the second period bell. She was still tired, of course, but she thought she could make it through the rest of the day without falling asleep again. She signed out of the nurse's office, and Shizune wrote her a pass to phys ed. Sakura took the pass even though she knew it wasn't necessary, since Kakashi-sensei was always late. The other students enjoyed the chance to hang out and chat for the first ten minutes of every class, but Sakura thought his tardiness was unprofessional and she wondered why he wasn't fired.

Sakura changed in a daze and entered the gymnasium. A few students milled about, hanging out and waiting for their instructor. Sakura wandered past the bleachers toward the doors leading outside. One of them was propped open to let in a little fresh air. A cool breeze drifted over Sakura's face, waking her up more effectively than a hundred lectures. It was only late September, but she could already detect a chill in the air.

"Damn, you have a nice ass."

Sakura whirled around and lashed out with her fist.

Hidan stepped to the side. He may get off on pain, but he liked himself to be the one inflicting the injury.

"Is this how you say 'hello' to everyone?" he asked.

"Only to you."

"Thanks," Hidan said sarcastically. "I feel real fucking special."

Sakura scowled at him. "Since when are you in this class?"

"Since I told my previous instructor that she was a frigid bitch who needed to get laid," Hidan replied, leaning casually against the bleachers.

Sakura rolled her eyes.

"What? I was trying to be helpful," said Hidan.

"You think everyone needs to get laid," said Sakura.

"And I'm usually right. You, for example, could really use a good fuck, and I'd be more than happy to help you out with that."

"Mmhmm," said Sakura. Sasuke had just entered the gym. Sakura couldn't help but notice how his T-shirt hugged his muscular chest and how his tight shorts accentuated his sexy butt. Sasuke began jogging around the outside of the gym, surprising Sakura with the athleticism of his movements. She knew Sasuke was Student Council President, church Youth Group Leader, and on his way to be class Valedictorian, so she had always assumed he didn't have time for things like sports.

"Sakura, are you even fucking listening to me?"

"What did you say?" Sakura asked, still looking at Sasuke.

Hidan laughed. "Oh, I see. You're busy eye fucking the prez."

"What are you talking about?"

Hidan grinned. She did a decent job of sounding nonchalant, but her blush gave her away at the last second.

"It's damn obvious you want to screw him."

Sakura tore her gaze away from Sasuke in order to give Hidan a reproachful look.

"I do not want to screw- er… sleep with Sasuke."

"Yes, you do," Hidan said knowingly.

"No, I don't."

"Yes, you do."

"No I don't!" Sakura hissed.

"Hey, Sasuke," Hidan said, addressing a person standing behind her. "We were just talking about you."

Sakura's eyes widened. Her cheeks quickly cycled through several shades of red as she turned around and met his clear black eyes.

"Hn."

Hidan smirked. The expression on Sakura's face was priceless.

"Yeah. Sakura wants to ask you-"

"For homework help!"

Sasuke looked at her suspiciously. "The only other class we have together is Health, and we don't have Health homework..."

Suddenly, Sakura saw the way out.

"He's my Health homework, remember?" she said, jerking her head at Hidan. "How's it been going with Naruto? This idiot doesn't listen to anything I say."

Sasuke looked away. "It's going fine," he muttered.

Sakura had only a moment to ponder Sasuke's strange reaction before Hidan interrupted them.

"Why don't I leave you two lovebirds alone, then?"

"I wish you would," said Sakura.

An odd emotion flickered across Hidan's face, anger mixed with… something else, something she couldn't name.

"Fine."

He turned abruptly and walked away.

Sakura looked toward Sasuke to see what he made of Hidan's behavior, but his face was once again a calm, emotionless mask.

Kakashi-sensei appeared in the doorway and clapped his hands together.

"Listen up, everyone, it's time to get started. Today we're going to-"

"Why were you late?" Sakura interrupted him. "No, why are you always late? It's inconsiderate and unprofessional, and frankly, I don't see why you haven't been fired."

The rest of the class stared at her. Half the students were incredulous because they had never heard Sakura Haruno talk back to a teacher before, and the other half was irate. They didn't want Sakura to get Kakashi fired because they were afraid they would lose their precious ten minutes of freedom before phys ed. Those who were hoping for a confrontation were disappointed. Kakashi simply smiled (or at least everyone thought he was smiling… it was hard to tell due to the creepy facemask he wore) and said,

"I got lost along the road of life."

OOOOOOO

As Sakura entered the guidance office, she pondered Kakashi's answer. She thought she might like to get lost along the road of life sometime, but unfortunately, she knew exactly where life was going to take her. She would graduate high school, go to college, find a career, get married, and live in the suburbs like her parents. Her only choice seemed to be between having one, two, or three children, and between having either a dog or a cat to occupy her "happy" home. Life had never seemed so banal, or so disappointing.

Frowning, Sakura withdrew her notebook. She had never been so grateful for her excursions into the world of fantasy. In her fanfictions, anything could happen. The adventures she created for Hinamori were wild at wonderful. Hinamori might feel hurt and depressed at times, but at least she never felt trapped.

Sakura checked the time on her cell phone. Hidan was late. That was good. If he was still angry with her, perhaps he wouldn't show up at all. That would be even better. Maybe Hinata had forgetten to tell him that Kurenai had put them in Misaki-sensei's office instead of Jiraiya's, lest they break even more snow globes.

Sakura looked up as the door opened.

Hidan grinned. "Sorry to tear you away from Hitsugaya and Hinamori."

"What?"

"I read your fanfic, Saku-chan."

His sarcasm made her wince.

"Sorry to break it to you, but your story kind of sucks," said Hidan.

She drew herself up to her full height in righteous indignation.

"What would you know? I got a ton of nice reviews, so there."

She wasn't sure if five counted as "a ton," but at least she hadn't gotten any scalds.

"It's not very detailed, your dialogue is flat, your plot is cliché, and it seems sort of rushed," said Hidan.

"Oh, and you could do better?"

"Uh, yeah."

Sakura crossed her arms over her chest. "Prove it."

"No."

She sighed. "You're all talk, as usual."

Hidan reached for her notebook, grabbed the pencil right out of her hand, and started scribbling something. A few minutes later, he handed the notebook back to her. She looked down at what he had written. His handwriting was bold and slanted and all over the place. It fit him well, she thought.

He had revised the scene she had written last Monday in study hall, adding more from Hitsugaya's point of view.

OOOOOOO

His heart was an icicle. He had devoted himself wholly to his work, channeling his emotions into his zanpaktou. His body and mind were nothing more than weapons to be used in the service of his organization. He'd give his life for Soul Society, but he didn't give a damn about anything (or anyone) else.

Until he met her.

She drove him crazy sometimes. She could be so damned condescending, always ruffling his hair and calling him 'Shiro-chan,' never mind that he was actually older than her.

But there was something about her… She had this indescribable air of warmth and friendliness that put him at ease. He could talk with her as he talked with no one else. Sometimes, she even listened.

He had decided to make her his, and he'd be damned if he'd let that bastard get in his way.

OOOOOOO

When she finished reading, Sakura looked up at Hidan, impressed.

"This is… really good."

Hidan rolled his eyes.

"Well, yeah. I'm not fucking illiterate."

Sakura frowned, choosing to ignore the potential jab at her writing. She may not be the next J.K. Rowling, but she certainly wasn't illiterate.

"If you can write this well, why are you failing English class?"

"Don't like to write."

"Well, sometimes mature adults have to do things they don't like to do," Sakura gritted out, losing her temper.

Hidan stared at her in disbelief. She sounded so fucking smug and superior, it was all he could do not to slap her across the face.

"What the fuck would you know about being a 'mature adult'? Do you have a job?"

"Not exactly…"

"Do you pay your rent?"

"No, but-"

"Do you pay your bills?"

"No."

"Then what the hell gives you the right to lecture me about being a 'mature adult'? Fuck, Sakura, I'm more of a 'mature adult' than you are."

"I do my schoolwork," Sakura said calmly. "You don't. If you passed high school, you could get a better job. You could make more money. You must know that. You're not an idiot."

For once, Hidan did not respond.

Sakura leaned forward and searched his violet eyes for traces of whatever might be going on inside that mysterious brain of his.

"Help me out here, Hidan. What can I do to make you try?"

"I can think of a couple things," Hidan said, giving her body a quick scan that brought heat to her face. He licked his lips, no doubt contemplating all the dirty things he'd like to do to her.

It was clear what she had to do next.

"If you get an A on your pre-calculus exam, I'll give you a kiss."

Hidan raised an eyebrow. "One kiss? What makes you think I'd be satisfied with that?"

"Fine," she snapped. "I-I'll make out with you."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes, but only for an A," she said quickly. "Nothing less."

She was glad she'd thought to raise the bar so high. She was learning that Hidan was far from stupid, and that it'd be simple for him to pass if he bothered to study. But an A? Impossible. Sometimes even she had difficulty getting As in precalc.

Hidan leaned closer and closer to her, until their noses were nearly touching.

"All right," he said finally. "I'll get an A on the test, but you damn well better live up to your end of the deal."

Sakura didn't say anything. Beads of sweat formed on her skin. Her heart was beating so loudly she was surprised he hadn't remarked on the sound.

What if he knows something I don't? Maybe he's secretly a calculus genius.

The idea was absurd. Still, she couldn't possibly let Hidan touch her that way, not after saving herself for Sasuke for years.

Hidan shot her a cocky smirk.

"Don't forget to brush your teeth."

Sakura took a deep breath.

Don't let him intimidate you, she reprimanded herself. There's absolutely no way he'll score that high. This is just to motivate him to study.

When she spoke, her voice was firm.

"Try your best. I'll see you next week."

Hidan winked at her.

"See ya."

The moment he left, Sakura released a breath she hadn't been aware she'd been holding.

Oh God, what have I gotten myself into?

OOOOOOO

A/N: If anyone is confused about whether this is supposed to be a crossover, it isn't, there's just a ton of references to other anime (most noticeably Bleach). Anyway, I know you are all dying to know what happens next, so I'll try to hurry with the next chapter. Please review!