(VIII) Love Struck


When it comes to relationships,
I don't have a clue.
Love at first sight?
I don't know, I zoom.
But then
you took my heart and me.
Ba Da Bing Ba Da Boom.

-Ino Yamanaka-


Moegi POV:

It was Wednesday, the third day of school and I was heading with Hanabi towards fourth period; Lady Chiyo's biology class.

Hanabi sighed and clutched the books in her arms more tightly, "Kono-kun still hadn't stopped. He's so obsessed in finding who the girl is."

"Why don't you just tell him it was you?" I asked her as we walked down the school hallways. I was really worried about her because she hasn't been herself much since school began and it's killing me to not be able to help her, "I mean it's not like he'll get mad. In fact, I'll bet he'll be glad about it."

"NO! Are you insane?" She exclaimed out of nowhere.

"Hanabi, he's n-," I turned to right to glance at her but she wasn't there. So I turned my body to search behind me and there she was, frozen in her tracks. Her eyes were glazed as she stared at her feet. It was like as if she was in a whole different universe.

I noticed her knuckles turning white as she gripped tighter on her books, "Hanabi?"

"H-he'll never talk with me again," She locked her moist eyes with mine as she gulped miserably, "I-I'll j-just ruin our friendship.

"You can never do that. He's fond of you if you haven't noticed," I told her, my voice serious yet full of remorse in seeing my best friend this way, "He's always telling you everything."

She looked at me as if I was demented and I sighed, "It's true Hanabi. He always does…"

"That's th-"

"HANABI! MOEGI!" Konohamaru was waving like an idiot as he run between the crowds, towards us, "I have great news!"

He stopped right in front of us, rested his hands on his knees and was panting heavily. It was as if he ran a thousand miles just to tell this news, whatever it was.

"I know a way to find out who the girl is," he said, completely out of breath, "I can just ask each girl in our class. Well not all of them, just the reasonable ones."

I sighed as we started walking again. Hanabi was still in dream land so I spoke up, "Kono, that's a stupid idea."

"It is? Why?" He furrowed his brows at me and I gave him a look that says 'Are-you-really-dumb-or-what'. When I didn't answer, he leered at Hanabi, hoping for an answer, but the Hyuuga hadn't even been paying attention. Konohamaru must have realized that something was wrong since her stopped and stood in front of the girl, waving his hand in front of her face, "Hey. Hanabi! What's up with you, freakzilla?"

I inwardly smile at the Kono's nickname for my gal pal. He'd started calling her freakzilla every since that day a year ago. Hanabi was freaking out because she had over heard her father talking on the phone about sending her to boarding school. She didn't stop blabbering and complaining about it for the whole weak and she looked like a mess. In the end it turns out she had misheard her dad. He wasn't going to send her away, but rather that one of his friends was asking about a boarding school to shift his son to.

"H-huh? W-what?" Hanabi came back from wherever she was in and wrinkled her nose for some reason.

"Did you even hear what I had said?" Konohamaru asked as he watched her walk over to a drinking fountain.

"Y-yeah. And Moegi's right. It's stupid."

I raised my brows at my best friend, completely shocked. Seriously what was up with this girl?

"Your fan girls will just claim to be the one even though it's not true," She said before bending down to have a drink from the fountain.

Konohamaru processed what she said quietly before talking again, "The girl. She sounded familiar…"

Hanabi choked on the water she was drinking when she heard this and swiftly turned to face our crazy guy friend.

"W-what?" She was panicking mentally. I could tell even though Kono couldn't. That guy really is dense…

Konohamaru sighed and stared at the ceiling, "Even though she just rushed through the words over the phone, I couldn't help but feel like… like she meant it. When she said she loved me, my heart skipped a beat. I was filled with warmth. And the most confusing thing … it felt like I knew her. I guess what I'm saying is," He looked from me to Hanabi and back again, "…I love her already, even though I've no clue about her identity."

I held my breath and just stared at him with wide eyes. Ok so maybe he wasn't as dense as he seemed to be. The most shocking thing; I've never seen him this way before. I've never heard him say such things. Hanabi made eye contact with me. Her eyes… it was so full of remorse, helplessness and … Heartbreak.

"K-Kono, look at it this way," I said, hoping to shake him off of the trail for my best friend's sake and sanity, "If she wanted you to know who she is, she would have told you by now."

"Y-yeah, b-"

I interrupted him since I wasn't finished, "She'll tell you when the time is right. Right, Hanabi?"

I glanced over at her just in time to see her jolt up. Guess she didn't expect me to ask her opinion.

"Y-yeah. She would…" She sounded so confused as she stared at her feet yet again. I heard her whisper something that was barely apprehensible. It sounded like "once she dies…"

I sighed. This girl just doesn't understand does she?

Konohamaru laughed nervously as he rubbed the nape of his neck, "Yeah. You're probably right. I bet you think I'm an idiot for saying such stupid things. Anyways, come on, let's hurry. Don't wanna be late for class now, do we?"

Both of them just don't get it…


Ino POV:

"I'm late! Move it people!" I pushed the other students away as I ran toward the arts room. I'd been so busy reapplying my make-up that I completely lost track of time and now I'm going to be late it I don't hurry up!

"SORRY IF I'M LA-"

OOMPH!

I had slammed the door open and rushed in only to bump into someone and fall flat on my butt. I groaned as I looked up at the hand extended towards me. I ran my eyes up that arm, to look at the person's face. I was caught in a trance when my baby blue eyes met the cutest ebony eyes ever! It belonged to that guy from yesterday's Nin training. It was him.

Sai…

"You should really be more careful miss," He smiled a heart melting smile as I placed my hand on his and he pulled me up, "Don't want pretty ladies like you getting injured."

I blushed crazy at his compliment. Or at least I thought it was a compliment. "I- umm…U-uh t-thanks."

*WHAT is wrong with me!*
*you're stuttering just like Hinata when with Naruto.*
*EXACTLY! I'm Ino. I don't do stuttering!*
*well you are. So deal with it*
*Tch. stupid inner!*
*Why thank you.*

"Miss Yamanaka, you may go to your seat," Yamato sensei informed me. I hadn't even realized that I was just standing there for no particular reason.

"Y-yes sensei," I muttered as I walked over and sat next to Kiba. He was the only one I knew in this class.

Kiba raised an eyebrow at me, "What was that about? Did Ino just stutter?"

I scoffed as I slapped his shoulder. He cried out in pain, causing half the class to look at us.

"Shut up, Kiba." I whispered to him when I saw Yamato sensei glaring at us.

"As I was saying before Miss Yamanaka inconveniently interrupted us," I sank down in my seat when Yamato sensei said this, "Sai here in a new student and will be with us for the rest of the year. Welcome Sai and please take a seat."

Sai thanked our sensei before walking over to an unoccupied easel and canvas. Nobody really paid attention to him since they were so concentrated on their work, but I did. I watched as he began painting on the canvas, I watched how he chose the colours and how he stroked the canvas with his brush.

"Man that guy reeled you in pretty deep Ino," I heard Kiba say. I sighed and looked at him.

"Is it that obvious?"

He grinned at me and turned back to his drawing, "He just better not hurt you else he'll hear it from everyone in our group."

I choked a laugh, "yeah… but it's not like I have a chance anyway."

Kiba looked up at me as if I had grown another head, "Why the hell not?"

I looked over my shoulder at Sai, "Because… I'm Ino, a flirt."

"Che. You are. But, that's not all you are and you know it," Kiba grunted at me. I smiled back at him. This guy is as unpredictable as Naruto sometimes.

"I'm lucky to have a friend like you Kiba. Thank you."

"You better be!" I scoffed at him in disbelief and he laughed. "And you're welcome Ino."


Hana POV:

"Jesus! Guy sensei should really keep his 'youthfulness' to himself! My legs are so numb from all that running!"

Tenten had been complaining about our PE sensei ever since we got out of our first PE lesson. I don't understand why she's complaining. After all, she can actually handle Guy sensei's strenuous PE workouts and such. In a way though, I can't blame her because I can't even feel my hands anymore. Our ever-so-youthful Sensei made us do 100 freaking pushups and it was exhausting! I'm not exaggerating when I say that man can keep running around the whole town non-stop. It's impressive but he seriously doesn't need to make us like him.

"- I mean seriously I don't know whether I can survive his PE lessons for a whole year!"

I didn't even realize that I had zoned out on her. Sighing, I twirled the combination of my locker and opened it, "Ten. Don't you think you're over exaggerating a little?"

"Are you kidding me?" she flailed her arms all over the place to emphasize her words, "He's going to lead me to my grave!"

I rolled my eyes at her as I pulled out the books I needed for our next lesson. Then out of nowhere I saw him. That was all it took for me to drift away to heaven. As I watched him stroll pass me with Gaara, my heart beat faster and slower at the same time and I couldn't breathe anymore. Just seeing him was so intoxicating.

My books slipped from my hand and I snapped out of dreamland. Tenten was suddenly quiet again as she stared at me. I bent down to pick my books up and as I reached out for the first one, another hand met mine. Electricity rushed through my body when our hands touched. I looked up to see him there, gazing down at me. Barely able to concentrate, I pulled my hand away and collected the other books instead. After making sure I had all of it, I stood up and so did he.

I met his eyes again, and I was surprised to see that he wasn't wearing his sun glasses today. We stared into each other's eyes for quite a while and in that spur of moment I felt like it was just us two standing there in the school hallways and no one else. Now, I really don't know what he felt but I do know I was mesmerized and I couldn't tear my gaze away from him. Thousands of emotions rushed through me; happiness, longing, anxiousness, wariness, anxiety, love… Each feeling had a reason behind it.

"We have to go now,"

I jolted as I was brought back to reality. I've never noticed that Gaara was there as well until now. I smacked myself mentally for being so clueless about my surroundings. He nodded at Gaara, handed me my book and without a word, walked away again.

"You know he'll find out sooner or later right?" Tenten asked me as I stared at his back, walking away from me.

"I know…" I whispered to myself as I closed my locker, "Shino is not stupid…"


Matsuri POV:

I didn't pay attention to Iruka sensei as he explained about heat waves and instead I just stared at the back of his head for no plausible reason. His blood red hair appeared to be so enthralling to me and I had no idea why. The only other thing I can see of him was his back. His seriously hot back…

I mentally pulled my hair in frustration.

*Girl, get a hold of yourself!*
*
Trying to if you didn't noticed.*
*Try harder!*
*Arrghh!*

"MATSURI! You okay? You seem to be in pain," Naruto hissed at me quietly so that our sensei won't notice us talking.

Feigning a smile, I answer him, "I'm fine. No worries."

He grimaced back at me, "Do you guys really take me as an idiot? Okay so maybe I am at times. But, I've known you for so long. Tell me."

I have to admit; he surprised me there and I kind of felt guilty as well. It's true though, Naruto can be dumb and so oblivious at times, but when it comes to his friends' emotions, he'll understand in an instant. Except when it comes to Hinata. Next time, I should really keep that in mind.

I sighed and glanced at the boy sitting in front of me. Naruto must have caught on because the next thing I knew he had placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder and was grinning his foxy grin at me, "You should tell him."

"Are you crazy?" I asked him wide eyed.

"Might be," he shrugged at me, "But why?"

"I can't tell him, Naruto. He's a childhood friend and since I'm close to him, I don't want my feelings to get in the way. It's going to make things worse," I explained to him with a heavy heart.

"You're wrong Mats. It's not going to ruin things, but rather make things even better," He looked at Gaara, paused for a second or two, before continuing, "He's been alone for too long. Sure he might have us all as his close friends and he has his siblings with him. But, come on, you know him more than the rest of us put together and you should know that even though he smiles and laughs at times, he's still lonely."

Naruto's words got to me and I knew he was right. Ever since their mother, Kurara-san died and that incident 5 years ago… a lot of things have changed. Gaara's attitude was one of them. He never got over his mom's death and neither did his siblings. Temari and Kankuro tend to have fun to get it off of their minds but Gaara? He bottles it all up inside him and never lets anyone in. I'm the only person he talks to openly, even if just a bit. He's a lot more different around me compared to when he's around his brother and sister.

I'm not trying to brag but it's just the simple truth and I didn't understand it either. In fact in confuses me a lot, though I never complain.

"Besides," Naruto turned to face me yet again and he was smiling this time; an honest smile, "Gaara's happy when he's around you…"

I sighed in defeat. I understood what Naruto was trying to say, but I'm still sticking with my opinion. Gaara is just open with me because I'm his best friend and best friends can talk with each other. Period. I was about to tell Naruto this but there was a knock on the classroom door and everyone swiveled towards it just as a senior that I didn't know entered.

"Sorry for interrupting Iruka sensei, but Tsunade-sama called for you," the coal-black haired guy said. Iruka sensei acknowledged him and turned to the class again.

"Alright kids, do the questions in chapter 2 while I'm gone," He walked towards the door and said, "And no fooling around."

Once he left the room every student began gossiping, talking, playing and whatever else they could do with each other. No one cared enough to actually do the questions. Typical.

Yansai strutted her way towards Gaara and sat down, crossed legged on his table. She was wearing the shortest skirt I've ever seen, that I wondered if it was a skirt. Her halter top was pretty skimpy and showed off her cleavage. I rolled my eyes at her as she tried flirting with Gaara, whose face, by the way, showed no emotion at all. In fact I don't even think he noticed the girl in front of him.

Yansai must have noticed it too; that Gaara wasn't paying her any attention. She got down from the table and tried to sit on his lap instead. Too bad for her that Gaara has swift movements and in a blink of an eye, Gaara was standing beside me and Yansai had fallen to the floor. Several heads turned to her and they burst out laughing. I chuckled along, not able to hide my contempt.

"Naruto, grab me that chair," Gaara said flatly and Naruto passed him the chair. Gaara place it by my table and just simply sat there without another word. Amused, I shook my head at the thought of what my best friend had just done. This guy… he does have a sense of humour beneath that entire cold demeanor.


Chisayi POV:

"Yo! Listen up kids. Your project for this week is that you'll pair up with someone and write a song. During the next class you'll both perform it. Remember it'll be 15% of your grade for this term. Any questions?" Bee sensei rapped at us. (a/n: I suck at rapping so bear with me here xD)

A girl with electric blue eyes and chestnut-brown hair tied into a French braid raised her hand.

"Yes Ginsei?" Bee-sensei inquired.

The girl squirmed into a more comfortable position before talking, "Will we be the ones to choose our partners?"

Bee-sensei shook his head and rapped his answer, "No little girl. I've chosen one for each of you. Work together is all you have to do."

The class groaned, not wanting to be paired up with someone they couldn't tolerate. Or worse yet, someone they despise.

"Did you pair me up with my Itachi-kun then?" the girl, whose name is Ginsei, asked yet again.

My brow up lifted in marvel. Did I just hear right? I scanned the room to find Mr. Swanky and when I found him, he was as impassive as ever. It looked as if he wasn't surprised and like he didn't care. Something in me panicked and was about to shatter and I don't even know why.

"I don't want to be paired up with fan girls," Itachi stated indifferently. I subconsciously heaved a sigh of relief. What is wrong with me!

"Oh you don't mean that Ita-kun," Ginsei whined at him. His eye twitched and he spoke again, "No, I do mean it, so shut up."

I winced when I heard his tone of voice; it rang with warning and seriousness. Guess he really hates his fan-girls.

"Hope I get paired up with you," Ginsei whispered, leaning towards me just as Bee-sensei began listing out those who'd be working together for this week, "I'd die if it wasn't yo-"

"Konan and Soko, Sasori and Yahiko, Tobi and Ginsei, Deidara and Shizashi…" Bee sensei went on and on.

"Or not…" Shizashi grinned as she perked up when she heard who she was paired up with. I saw Tobi face palm himself and say, "Oh no, Tobi is gonna die…" Ginsei just groaned, but I didn't pay attention to them. Instead I looked at my best friend with plain amusement.

She knitted her brows at me, "What?"

"You like him," I stated matter-of-factly as I crossed my arms over my chest.

Hey eyes widened and her mouth hung open, clearly inviting flies. She scoffed, "I do not!"

I raised my hand in front of me defensively as if saying 'whatever-you-say-girl'. I then strained my ears to listen to Bee sensei, still waiting to hear who I got paired up with.

"And lastly, Itachi and Chisayi" Bee sensei ended.

Oh thank goodness. Wait WHAT!

"Well whaddaya know…" My crazy best friend's voice was filled with mirth when she eyed me evilly.

This is so not cool Bee sensei. I'm paying you back for this. Just you wait…


Tenten POV:

.

It was after school and we were here at home, in the Hyuuga compound, playing basketball against each other. When I said we, I meant Neji and me. Hinata wasn't really into basketball so she didn't join us and Hanabi disappeared somewhere so it was just me and Neji.

I've been living with the Hyuugas ever since my parents' death. Since I didn't have any close relatives, Hiashi-sama, being my parents' best friend, took me in. It was difficult at first, getting used to their customs and being the only non-Hyuuga in the whole compound. Eventually though, I got used to it with my friends' help. And it's actually kind of fun living in with friends…

Anyways, going one-on-one with Neji is tiring. I was swift but he was taller than me and keeps on blocking the ball when I shoot. So far he's winning and if I don't score this last shot I'd lose to him, which is certainly not something I'd like in the least.

"Give up, Ten. You're still going to lose," Neji affirm.

"We'll see Hyuuga, we shall see…" I narrowed my eyes perilously at him, but he just smirked back.

*You are sooo going down now Hyuuga.*
*heh. You got that right.*
*You show him what we're made of!*
*Oh ho yes I will!*

As I dribbled the ball, I quickly swerved pass him and ran towards his basket. He acted almost at once and ran after me. I reach the three point line and decided to shoot from there since I couldn't risk him reaching me to take the ball away. My knees bent, my hands were around the ball over my head and within a second I jumped up as I shot the ball. Unfortunately for me, Neji arrived just in time to catch the ball in his hand and as he did so he bumped into me and we fell down.

I closed my eyes and groaned when I landed on the ground with a thud. However, my eyes snapped open when I felt pressure above me, and I gazed into those pale, lavender eyes.

'Oh my god! Neji is on top of me! Freaking hell!' I panicked in my head.

Neither of us moved; we just stayed like that, staring at each others' eyes. Even though I ordered my body to move away, it just didn't do so. Now I know what Hinata felt when she accidentally kissed Naruto. Now I know why she didn't move away so soon.

It felt like I was falling deeper and deeper into the depths of his eyes as I kept on staring. His touch… it felt so right. My stomach knotted and I couldn't seem to think straight. All that was in my head was about how much I wanted to kiss him. I scared myself with that thought. His head seemed to be closing in on mine by the second and it was making me dizzy. I felt so light headed, and my heart was beating faster and faster and faster…

*Get a grip Tenten! He's you're best friend!*
*I know! I know! But…*
*No buts! Move. NOW!*
*I don't know how.*
*PUSH him away moron!*
*Don't want to…*
*Do you even HEAR yourself right now!*
*OMG! OMG! Move legs! Move arms! Move something!*

"Aaarggh!" I snapped out of my inner fighting and jolted up to push him away, but I ended up knocking his head with mine. And boy did it hurt!

"Ouch!" I clutched my forehead where it ached, "Don't ever do that again."

"Hn." Neji was seriously getting on my nerves now. I turned to him so I could blast him, but I met his gaze yet again and I changed my mind at once. Instead I got up from the ground and scurried over to towards the mansion.

"Gotta go! Bye Neji! See ya later!" I nervously told him from over my shoulder as I ran away.

Once inside my room, I closed the door behind me and leaned back on it and sighed. I placed a hand over my racing heart and stared at nothing.

"What happened back there?" I asked myself.


Sari POV:

"Hey there beautiful lady!" Kankuro greeted the girl as he placed a soda and a coke on the counter. The girl giggled as she billed the items and continued to talk flirtatiously at my playboy best friend.

I rolled my eyes as I watched the idiot flirt with the cashier and patiently waited for him by the door of the shop. Temari had gone out somewhere with Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba and Ino. Gaara and Matsuri had said they were going to the library to research for a school project. With the three of them gone, Kankuro and I were alone in the mansion and it kind of boring, so we decided to go for a walk. So now here we were, stopping by this shop to get some drinks but Kankuro obviously came to flirt as well.

"Sari! Heads up!" Kankuro threw the coke can at me and I caught it without breaking a sweat.

"You know," I opened my coke can as we walked out and faced him, "You should really stop flirting with every girl you meet. Karma will hit you back."

"Tch. What's the worse they can do?" he asked with an air of confidence.

"Oh I dunno… kill you?" I told him sarcastically.

"Che. As if."

I rolled my eyes yet again and took a sip of my coke, "I'm serious. You really should stop. You're playing with their feelings."

He looked at me with amusement and it confused me. "What?" I asked him

"You like me," he stated matter-of-factly.

I scoffed at him, "Puh-lease!"

"Aww come on! Admit it. You. Like. Me"

I smacked him and said, "Dream on lover boy!"

We both burst out laughing when we met each others' gaze, since we weren't serious in the least. But somehow, in my heart I felt like something was wrong. It was as if something was piercing me. The unnatural feeling troubled me but I bottled it up.


What will happen with Itachi's and Chisayi's Music project? Will Matsuri ever tell Gaara? Who is Ino really falling for? Why didn't Neji pull away from Tenten when they both fell down? Will hanabi ever tell Konohamaru?

Well this chapter seriously took longer than i thought it would to write it.
I think it'll be quite a while before i write a next chapter to this since i don't really have a plot to it yet. I have ideas but no order into which i should relay them in.