MARI

I woke to the sound of beeping from my alarm clock. I groggily reached my hand over and turned it off. I sat up and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. It was two days after the festival, but the memories were still fresh in my mind. I slipped out of the covers and headed towards the kitchen. My bare feet made little thuds as I walked through the bare hallway of my home. My mother and father left me with a huge house, but I felt like it was just a waste of spave since I was the only one living there. So I moved to a much smaller aparment that had only the bare nesessities. I only visit the house to look at old photographs and knick knacks from my parents. I never brought any home, I don't really know why this is, but I guess I feel like that those things belong in that house.

I walked into the kichen and was about open the fridge door when the doorbell rang. I walked towards the door and looked out the peephole. It was just my luck that it was Sasuke and I looked like a mess.

"Just a minute!" I called as I hurridley ran into the bathroom, brushing my hair with one hand and my teeth in another. After I looked at least presentable I opened the door and said good morning. Sasuke was leaning against the opposite wall looking at the ground intently, but as he saw me, pushed himself off the wall and walked towards me.

" Good morning." he said as he wrapped his arms around me and kissed my on the crown of my head. I was still not used to this, since it was only yesterday we started going out. It was also kinda weird to see Sasuke who was always brooding and hard as a rock to act gentle and kind. The last few days he was kept asking if I was alright and if there was anything I needed. It was nice seeing this side of him. I stepped out of his embrace and smiled up at him.

" What brings you here?" I said. "Its still 7'o'clock in the morning."

"kakashi sent me to gather you and Naruto." he said putting his arms in front of his chest. "He wants us to meet him in front of the hokage mansion at eight"

"Its probably another D rank mission" I said sighing and closing the door behind Sasuke. He shrugged his shoulders and went over and sat down on the small couch. I got a glass of milk and walked over to him until I was in front of him.

"Well, are we going to go or not?" I said before gulping down my milk.

"Aren't you going to get dressed first?" he said looking me up and down. I looked down and saw that I was still in my neon orange footie pajamas. I blushed and left the room without another word. I hurridley ripped off my pajamas and put on my ninja gear making sure to brush my hair into a high ponytail.

"Ready!" I said walking out my room and grabbing my keys off the hook. Sasuke looked up at me and smiled.

"I kind of liked those bright orange pajamas." He said teasing me.

"Haha, very funny" I said blushing slightly. Naruto gave me them for my birthday, saying something like we could have matching colors.

"No, seriously. You looked very cute." he said grabbing me by the wrist and dragging me towards him until I was sitting across his lap. I layed my hand on his hair, which was incedibley soft.

"How cute?" I smirked a develish grin as I got closer to his face until I was less than an inch away. He answered me by kissing me softly on the lips. I pulled his hair lightly making him stop and looked at me curiously.

"Time?" I said standing up and gesturing towards the clock. " We have to go pick up Naruto and knowing him he's probably not even dressed yet.

"Your right." Sasuke said standing up " The Dobe would sleep all day if he could. Lets go."

...

As we walked towards Naruto's house I got more nervous with every step. I knew he wanted to know why I really did that to Sarah. Plus, I still haven't told him about me and Sasuke. I mean he was totally into Sarah that night and I really didn't feel comfortable to go over there and tell him in front of her after what happend. I know she said that she forgave me, but I still can't forgive myself. We also haven't had any missions, so I haven't seen him recently either. As we reached his door I raised my hand to knock on the door, but before I could, Naruto came running out and knocked me on the ground, with him on top of me. I looked up at Naruto's beaming face.

"Hey, Mari! What are you doing here?" he said cheerfully. I blushed noticing how close his face was to mine and smiled lightly.

"Umm...well..." For some strange reason I couldn't get the simple words out, but before I tried again, Sasuke grabbed Naruto and threw him off me.

"Stay off my girlfriend, idiot." Sasuke said helping me up.

"What the...Wait! Did you just say girlfriend?" Naruto said looking confused as he stood up.

"Yes, Dobe. Mari is my girlfriend." Sasuke said pulling me towards him. Naruto glanced at me questiongly.

"Its true. Sasuke and I started going out on the night of the festival after the incedent with Sarah." I said taking a steps toward him.

I saw a pang of hurt run across his features, but was quickly covered up with a scowl. " Well, what do you guys want? I know you didn't just come here to tell me that."

"Kakashi Sensie wants us to meet him in front of the hokage mansion. Probably just another dumb D rank mission, since thats all we have been getting recently." I said grinning slightly,trying to get Naruto back to his old self.

"Ya, probably." He said shrugging. " I'll see you there. I have to go do something first."

I watched as he walked away with his hands in his pockets.

NARUTO

I've been sad many times in my life. My feelings been hurt many times from stangers, people from the village, instructors, and my own classmates. I've been punished many times before for just existing. I felt like crying and sobbing, but I sucked it up and dealt with it. I was cured from this sadness when I made friends and comrades. They helped me see happiness in living and being alive.

I've been mad many times in my life. I have felt like punching the villagers, wrecking there things and acting like the demon they thought I was. For a very short time I have thought about getting revenge on every single one of them. But I found people who showed me kindness and love and I was cured. They helped me find the reason for living without having to be searching for revenge.

I've been jealous many times in my life. I've seen many times in my life children my age getting love I've always dreamed of. Then I asked myself why am I only the one not getting this kind of attention. Is it because of the whisker shaped scars on my face? I actually always thought they would make me more adorable. Then I would pull pranks and act like a complete fool to get attention. I didn't care if it was bad attention if at least I was getting it. Then I met Mari who didn't have any parents like myself and she showed me you don't have to be bad to get attention, but by being strong and making friends who care about you.

But right now I feel these feelings coming back. I feel sad because even thought I love Sarah I can't help but still have feelings for Mari and now that she is with the stupid Teme I have no chance at her. I also cant help be jealous of the Teme. I loved her way longer then her and he just pops up in the picture and takes her away. And I'm mad at myself for feeling this way. I never told her how I felt towards her and I love Sarah right now so I have no right to feel this way at all.

I kicked the wall in my fustration and cursed when Ifelt the throbing pain I now had in my foot. I now limped towards the park that I was supposed to meet Sarah this morning for are first date. I knew she would be dissipointed that I would miss are first date, so I had to make it up for somehow. I changed my direction to the local store.

When I got there I went straight towards the flowers, but changed my ming thinking that I had to get something more meaningful. I wasn't good at these things so I went over and asked the store assistant if he had any ideas.

"Well, you could get her something that reminds her of you or a time that you guys had a special moment together." He said organizing some cans. "That usually always works. Or you get always get her flowers."

"Thanks, mister. That really helped!" I said making my way over to the books. I knew exactly what to get her. I looked throught the many books that lined the shelves until I found the one I was looking for. I took it off the shelve and went over to the cash register. I payed for the item and ran out the door despite the dull throb I still felt on my foot. I ran towards the park until I saw Sarah who was holding a basket heading the same way I was.

"Hey! Sarah!" I yelled. She looked back and smiled. She waited as I ran to catch up with her. " Hey! I was on my way to the park to tell you that I couldn't go on our date today, but bought you a present to say I was sorry." I said gesturing towards the bag I was holding in my hand. She looked a little sad, but brightened when I showed her what I got her.

"Thank you, Naruto." She said kissing me on the cheek. "But why this?"I blushed and put my hand behind my head.

"Well, I remember the first time we went on a mission together, just the two of us, to the land of Tea and they were having a parade and they had those paper thingies-"

"Oragami, it was called oragami." she said cutting me off.

"Ya! those things! And you kept saying how beautiful they were and how you wished you could do that. So I bought this oragami book to teach you how!" I said happily.

"You remember that?" She asked smiling.

"How could I not! It was our first mission together and it was also the time that old women stole Gama-chan!"

"Haha! We thought she just wanted help picking her rice paddies!" she said laughing. I smiled and took the basket in one hand and hers in another.

"I guess I'll walk you home, so you can start practicing on your oragami thingies."I said walking towards her home.

"Thanks." She said squeezing my hand. As we walked back I couldn't help but think back to earlier this morning.

"Did you know Mari and Sasuke were going out?" I asked. She nodded.

"They never told me, but they were holding hands on the night of the festival and they were acting a little wierd. Didn't you notice?" She asked looking at me.

"Umm..kinda, but I never knew they would be going out. I was a little suspicious that Sasuke liked Mari, but I didn't know she like him too."

"Me neither, but sometimes things like that happen." She said smiling at me. I smiled back her. We walked in a comfortable silence then until we reached her house.

"Thank you for everything." She said as we reached her door.

"No problem. Its all I could do for missing our first official date." I said giving back her basket. "I'll take you somewhere special when I get back."

"You better!" she said before smiling. I pecked her on the lips before leaving her waving goodbye.