The Thin Line

Chapter 10:

Ino and Itachi took their seats on the couch after drying themselves as thoroughly as possible while still fully clothed. The blonde's mother was sitting with her legs crossed, slightly leaning on her father whom was sitting back with his legs open, arms crossed over his chest. He sighed and rubbed either side of his temple with his middle finger and thumb. He then leaned forward with his elbows resting on his knees and looked at the two.

"So… Why exactly did you two feel the need to soak the kitchen? Ino, you're mom just cleaned it, you know-"

"So, who's this young man, sweet heart?" the woman interrupted her husband's question with her own, curious as to whom this handsome male on her couch was, especially since it seemed her teenage daughter had brought him home. Ino fidgeted nervously and made a few sounds in her throat that seemed like bottled noises of anxiety before answering.

"He's… a classmate of mine… at… the school?" she answered warily, aware of her father's blank yet, somehow, torturous glare on the boy next to her.

"Classmate, huh?-"

"Oh, a classmate! So, you two are in the same class?" her father was interrupted again by the excited woman sitting next to him.

"Well, actually he's a year ahead of… me. We met during… lunch…"

"Ah, great! So, now that we know the story perhaps we can get an introduction?"

"Of course," Itachi replied bluntly, switching into a polite mode that Ino had never seen before. He stood, the towel used to dry himself draped over his shoulder, and outstretched his hand toward Ino's mother.

"My name is Itachi Uchiha, it's nice to meet you," he stated with an earnest smile. Mrs. Yamanaka stood and shook the boy's hand.

"It's nice to meet you as well, this is my husband; but I guess you already knew that."

Itachi's smile changed into an almost serious look as he reached his hand toward Mr. Yamanaka. The man stood, towering Itachi by a good few inches, and shook the high schooler's hand firmly, pleased with the firm returned shake.

"So," Mr. Yamanaka said, "you're in your last year of school? What do you plan to do afterwards?" he asked, re-taking his seat and leaning back, left arm resting on the back of the couch. Itachi sat back down and this time he was the one to rest his elbows on his knees. He intertwined his fingers and spoke.

"I am and I plan on going to University after I graduate."

"Oh, really?" the older man questioned, genuinely interested, "which school? Started studying for the entrance exam yet?"

"Tokyo University. Actually, Sir, I got a chance to take the exam early and have been accepted."

"Really? Congratulations! How'd you do on the exam?" Mrs. Yamanaka chimed in, even more excited now.

"Nearly perfect score, the highest of all the early applicants," the Uchiha answered, just barely managing to keep the prideful smirk creeping its way onto his face inside.

"Amazing! You're such a smart boy!" the woman squealed, gripping her husband's leg as several unknown thoughts raced through her head. "All right, Itachi, what do you plan on studying?"

"Well, it's a tie between-" a loud buzzing in the young man's back pocket interrupted his answer. He apologized and stood up, digging the phone out of his damp pants and checking the caller ID.

"Oh, I'm sorry, it's my coach, I have to take this. Please excuse me," Itachi exited to the hallway leading to the front door and flipped open his phone.

"What's up?" he asked immediately, knowing his coach never called him for just a simple chat.

"Minami Kuro is challenging you for next Saturday, are you up to it?"

"Minami Kuro? You mean the guy Hikaru was talking about, Killer Kuro or something?"

"Yea, he said he's got some score to settle with you fair and square… Something about a girl named Misa."

"Misa…?" Itachi paused for a moment, deep in thought then quickly re-emerged, "ah, Misa… That his girlfriend or something?"

"How the hell am I supposed to know? Look, are you in or out?"

"What the hell kind of question is that? I'm in. But I don't like the date, tell him to pick a new one next time you see him."

"He's right here, why don't you come deal with it yourself?"

"Hmm…" Itachi looked back into the living room in which he would be forced to continue the question and answer session with the blonde girl's parents and sighed, "can't do it. For whatever fucking reason I'd rather be where I am right now," Itachi answered, sighing inwardly.

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before a quick "all right, I'll work something out," and then a beep.

Itachi closed his phone and replaced it in his pocket before returning to the trio awaiting his re-entry. Itachi sat back down next to Ino.

"So, where were we?"

TBC

Author's Notes: You guys I'm soooo sorry for not updating for so long! And this chapter is pitiful! I've had graduation and sickness and travelling and college stuff. Also, for those of you who don't know (or forgot XD) this story is a collaboration and my partner and I are no longer living together, we'll actually be much further apart than normal in a few days so we'll see what we can do :).

Thanks for your loyalty, guys! :)