Did I mention I had most of the week off? Again I'm updating sooner then usual for a few reasons. One because I have time. Two because the last chapter was kind of crappy (I'm sorry). Three because I've got work all this weekend and my schedule for next week is a black abyss of the unknown so I could not be able to update next week... Hopefully it's another three day week and I'll be able to write again.
Anyway, this chapter turned out a little better in my mind so I hope you guys enjoy it! Also, posting the first of Gaara as well today so look out for it and to all of you Sasuke fans there is a new Sasuke one-shot on my page that has just been published*winks* you know you want to go check it out...
Naoko had no concentration the following day. She had awoken that morning more embarrassed then she could explain for crying in front of Shika, Choji, and Ino. That was unacceptable as a ninja, though Ino seemed to have no problem with it. She even seemed to understand how she felt.
Naoko didn't think she had ever had a girl be so friendly to her. Girls just didn't like Naoko. Period. End of Story. Even Hinata felt uncomfortable around her though she was never mean like some of the other girls were. Ino herself was often kind of mean to Naoko and it had been a shock when the blonde girl had embraced her. It actually made her cry more.
"It's all right. It happens to all of us eventually." Ino had said, and Naoko assumed by "us" she had meant girls.
Naoko wondered if that were really true, if it were just a girl thing. Perhaps there was no way around it.
She arrived at the training grounds late, her white hair tousled with sleep. She glanced up as Naruto yelled out her name from a distance. and seeing Sasuke made her look right back down. Her shoulders tensed with embarrassment and frustration.
There was suddenly a hand on her head and she jumped as Kakashi spoke. "You're even later than me." He said playfully. "Did you sleep in?"
Naoko shrugged out from under his hand. "No. I just didn't feel like showing up on time when you were gonna be late." She grumbled. This was all his fault. If he hadn't pretended to be Sasuke, then suggested she talk to him, and then forced her to be alone with him Sasuke would have never kissed her, she would have never cried, and today wouldn't be the most mortifying day of her existence.
"Are you angry at me again? I take it your conversation with Sasuke didn't go so well."
Naoko's red eyes went wide with fear and her face flushed just as red, "shut up!" She hissed as Naruto ran up to them.
Kakashi chuckled and Naruto began his usual morning charades of yelling at Kakashi and excitedly greeting Naoko. He stopped mid-sentence though, his bright blue eyes studying Naoko for a moment.
"Are you ok, Naoko-chan?" He asked suddenly.
Naoko glanced up, running her fingers through her hair as she did so. She locked eyes with Naruto for a second, seeing genuine concern for her which made her all the more uncomfortable. She looked away with a shrug. "I'm fine. We gonna train or what?" She asked sharply.
Naruto grinned from ear to ear. "Hell yeah we're gonna train! Datte Bayo! Sasuke-teme!" He yelled pointing the dark haired ninja whose eyebrow was twitching in frustration. "Let's fight!"
Sasuke looked directly at Naruto, totally ignoring Naoko's presence as he accepted the duel and they were off before Kakashi could even comment. A small nervous chuckle escaped Kakashi, "He took the challenge rather gracefully today. How about we work on Genjutsu again?" He turned to Naoko with his orange book already flipped open and Naoko scowled.
"Pervert." She grumbled.
Kakashi simply smiled, "you're rather grumpy today."
Naoko pursed her lips at this statement. "I am not! Just shut up and start teaching."
Kakashi chuckled at this and nodded.
Training went even worse than it had the other day. Naoko was hardly able to meditate at all. Her mind kept wondering and she kept throwing her hands up in frustration. She would run her fingers through her hair and tug lightly as Kakashi tried to give her pointers and subtle encouragement. She still felt like she was getting nowhere and by the end of training Naoko was completely frazzled and silently sitting with her legs crossed and her eye brows knitted together in fierce concentration.
She hated not even being able to control her own thoughts.
Naruto and Sasuke loudly approached and this made it all the harder to think. She felt as though she could feel Sasuke's eyes on her as Naruto and Kakashi chatted, or rather as Naruto chatted at Kakashi.
Naoko's thoughts quickly derailed from chakra to the look in Sasuke's eye as he leaned into her, and then the way Ino had so carefully told her it was normal. Why did it have to be normal? Why did she have to like him of all people? A stuck up, stupid, mean boy who would never like her back?
She threw her hands up with a shout yet again and ran her fingers through her hair while muttering Shika's ever favorite phrase, "Mendoksai…"
Kakashi questioned her this time, "Are you sure you're alright?"
Naoko refused to look at him as she replied, "I'm fine!"
"Mah, mah, no need to yell," he said with a smile. "Sasuke-kun, why don't you try and cheer Naoko-chan up with one of your daily fights?"
Naoko's red eyes grew wide and her head flew to Kakashi in horror. What the hell was this man's problem?!
Sasuke looked physically uncomfortable at the comment, his body tense and his hands stuffed in his pockets as he turned his head away with a small, "tch."
Naruto spoke out rather quickly. "Kakashi-sensei! How is that supposed to help cheer Naoko-chan up?!" turned to Naoko with an oblivious grin. "Naoko-chan, let's go eat ramen! I'll pay!" He proudly pointed his thumb to his chest as he spoke, a wide smile playing on his lips.
Naoko watched Naruto in awe for a moment. He truly was always smiling and for the first time in front of her new team Naoko laughed. A small childish giggle spilling from her lips as she pushed her hair out of her face.
Of course Naruto thought food would solve it and perhaps… he was right; something good to eat always made things seem a little better. Naoko nodded, a smile still playing on her lips, "mm, I'd like that."
That smile was enough to make all three of the boys stare. Naruto was the first to speak up about it though, "Na-Naoko-chan…"
She blinked in confusion to his sudden change in tone and stuttering voice.
"Y- you… You smiled!" He pointed to her face and Naoko quickly felt herself going red.
"Idiot! Don't look so surprised! Everyone smiles!" She turned away slightly, using the back of her hand to cover her mouth.
Kakashi laughed, "I think it was just surprising to see how cute it looked on you." He teased her and her face turned a more violent shade of red.
"Shad'up! It was just a smile!"
"You're blushing too though!" Naruto's voice was much louder now and Naoko nearly leapt up as she tried to cover his mouth.
"Naruto!" She yelled in warning.
Naruto quickly shut up and struggled to keep Naoko off of him as he apologized. Their fighting made her miss the way Sasuke had reacted.
Kakashi hadn't missed it though, and he chuckled at the jealous and moody expression that Sasuke now held. He gathered that Sasuke must have seen her smile before because he didn't stare in shock but more in fascination, Kakashi also could've sworn he saw the corner of Sasuke's lips twitch up slightly at the sight of the girl laughing. An almost smile from the young Uchiha.
Kakashi sighed softly, a smile on his lips as he watched the now jealous boy glare at Naruto and Naoko's playful behavior. "Young love." He said in a quiet dreamy tone, and Sasuke glared slightly in his direction.
"What?" Sasuke asked fiercely.
"Hm? Oh nothing important," Kakashi flashed him a smile and returned to his book. Young love indeed.
