The room was completely dark when Ren opened her eyes; she had been woken up by the soft sound of bare footsteps padding across the hardwood floor. With a low groan she shifted her weight; her right arm felt dead and the pain that shot throughout it was enough to make her shut her eyes tighter just to adjust to the tingling sensation.

She blinked through the darkness once she grew accustomed to the pain but the whole room was pitch black and she was having difficulty moving; it was like she was half pinned between a rock and a hard place. Then she heard a wet smacking sound, like someone opening and closing their mouth after they had been drooling; her toes were wet. "Argh, where am I," she groaned internally.

In an instant the lights were thrown on, causing her to close her eyes once more, and she heard several clicks of a camera shutter going off. Feminine laughter filled the room and suddenly the rock she had been pinned to moved, separating her from the hard place. Her body was falling forward before she had a chance to register anything; she rolled and she landed on the wooden floor with a loud THUD~. "Ouch," she grumbled out as she shifted into a sitting position using only one arm to do it; the other just wasn't cooperating.

"Oh my gosh! That was amazing," TenTen's whispered voice bounced around Ren's mind.

"TenTen? What are yo-," she started to question but once her eyes were opened her mouth shut in a hurry. She was on the floor, in the living room, with her toes wet and a dead arm. She had fallen asleep on the couch.

"What is your problem," Sasuke hissed as he stood right next to where Ren had just fallen.

"What's going on," another male voice, Naruto, asked as he sat up on the couch.

It all came flooding back to the Hyuga in an instant:

They had been watching horror movies half the night. It started out with The Hills Have Eyes while they ate their takeout, then they watched The Ring, followed by a few others that she couldn't even remember the names of until they got to Poltergeist.

She wasn't too scared (at first) but then her mind started playing tricks on her; that was something she hadn't experienced since she was little. Horror movies weren't something she usually found terrifying but this one was different. Naruto seemed to be having a similar reaction because he would scoot a little closer to her, bump her hand causing her to jump, apologize then she would scoot closer to Sasuke in a pathetic attempt to distance herself from Naruto. By the time she brushed her leg against Sasuke's he was staring at the two of them instead of the screen. "You two are such babies," he muttered.

"Are not! You just don't have a heart, teme," Naruto whined out, "This movie is creepy, man!"

"Tch," was Sasuke's response.

Ren hadn't taken her eyes from the screen and watched in horror as the poltergeist activity increased. For some unknown reason she buried her face into Sasuke's shoulder at the same time Naruto hid behind her back.

Sasuke had tensed up when she pressed her eyes against him but he didn't push her or Naruto away. Ren could feel him trembling ever so slightly; there was something about not being able to see the villain that made horror movies that much scarier, even for someone with a stone-cold exterior like Sasuke. "Fine. We'll turn in for the night," he muttered as he pressed the STOP button on the DVD remote.

"Th-thank you," Ren whimpered lowly as she attempted to straighten up. Naruto was practically spooning her in the most awkward way and she was forced to continue to lean on Sasuke.

"Now I'm never going to sleep, teme," Naruto groaned as he pressed his chin lightly into Ren's shoulder. She felt like the meat in a sandwich… but it was made with bread that had been sitting out for a few days and was hard.

"We'll watch something funny before going to bed," Sasuke grumbled.

Ren had no idea what to do. Sasuke surely was bothered by her practically being glued to him but he didn't show any signs of it actually disturbing him; he seemed irritated that the movie had to be turned off and that he wasn't able to go to bed yet but the close proximity produced no response. He wasn't trying to push her away or insult her; she felt very confused. Something about his attitude didn't feel like the Sasuke she was getting to know.

"Thanks! Let's watch that new kid movie that came out. What's it called," Naruto mused as he shifted away from Ren slightly, giving her the chance to scoot away from Sasuke a little. Ren watched as a dark expression formed on Sasuke's face; she had no idea why, maybe Naruto's movie suggestion annoyed him. She realized she had been staring and a pink blush dusted her cheeks slightly; Naruto was still talking, "-and then somehow she meets up with that fox dude and he has to help her for whatever reason. Let's watch that one."

"You mean Zootopia? No fucking way. We aren't little kids. We'll watch Deadpool or something," Sasuke stated.

"But that's rated M and we're only sixteen," Ren blurted out. The movie was supposedly amazing but she wasn't one to disobey warnings. She really was a good girl to a fault; she prayed this wouldn't get her in a situation where both boys made fun of her. Sasuke had done enough of that at the start of the movie marathon.

"We're practically adults," Naruto seconded Sasuke's movie choice.

"A baby having a baby. How cute," Sasuke cooed sarcastically as he rolled his onyx orbs.

Ren puffed her cheeks and glared at Sasuke. "I am not a baby nor am I havingone," she stated firmly; her voice was like venom. She had had enough of the subject. It was there, it was insane, and she didn't know how to deal with it.

Naruto waved his hands in front of his chest and begged, "Please don't fight, guys! We can watch something else. It's supposedly got some sex scenes in it anyway; it'd be weird to watch those with a girl."

"It'd be weirder to watch them with you, dobe," Sasuke retorted. "How about we just turn on Cartoon Network. Maybe they'll have a good anime on there."

"I hope it's not Boruto," Naruto groaned out.

"Why not," Ren asked awkwardly; everyone in the household seemed to like it (well, she couldn't be certain about Jia and Hideki).

"My godfather's the guy who created it. Claims he based the kid off of me but I don't see it. The physical stuff, sure, but not personality. I'm way better than that kid," Naruto explained.

It made sense now. Naruto had the same facial markings as Boruto because Boruto was based off Naruto. She knew he had seemed familiar; the similarities had been almost creepy. "I wonder if Konohamaru knows that," she pondered inside her mind.

"There, it's InuYasha," Sasuke grumbled out as he got situated on the couch. Ren hadn't even noticed he changed the TV back to cable. As Sasuke moved his legs up onto the couch so that he was laying down she had to move her legs towards Naruto so she wasn't in his way, Naruto ended up laying down the other way, and Ren remained as upright as she could in the awkward positon.

The arm chairs would have been inviting if they were there and she could get to them. Unfortunately for the Hyuga, Jia had decided to move them into Hideki's study; Ren was stuck on the couch if she wanted to be sitting on anything but the floor.

One minute InuYasha and Kagome were fighting about Kikyo… the next she was waking up.

The three of them had fallen asleep on the couch. Ren raked her fingers through her hair but her ring finger got stuck in a tangle. "You're welcome," TenTen stated as she tucked her cellphone into the pocket of her pajamas.

"Yeah, thanks for waking us up so fucking early," Sasuke growled out; he definitely wasn't a morning person.

"What's the big idea, TenTen," Naruto whimpered out as he rubbed the grit from his eyes.

Ren was the only one who didn't question her sister. If Ren had stayed in whatever position she had been laying in, her whole body would be as sore as her right arm was; she was grateful for the free range of movement even if it did mean being woken up at… 3:37am; she had squinted at the time on the cable box to know. She hoped it was just sleepiness and not her eyes going bad on her that caused her vision to be blurry. Hyuga's were supposed to have perfect, almost super human vision; glasses weren't on her 'desire' list.

"You guys do realize that Ren's a girl right? Mom and dad may not think anything of you two spooning on the couch, sucking on each other's toes or whatever tickles your pickle … but they will care if Ren's in the mix. How dumb can you guys be? If you were tired you should've went to bed. You're lucky you guys didn't fall asleep before they came home and that I'm the one who woke you up," TenTen lectured them. It was like she was the mother in the household.

Ren hung her head low, completely missing the tidbit about toe sucking (she had forgotten all about her wet toes), as TenTen scolded them. It was a dumb move but she hadn't even felt tired. She was so wrapped up in the anime that when her eyelids drifted shut, she was sure she dreamt about the episode.

Sasuke's face was blank as he stared at TenTen. It was as if he was challenging her without words. Naruto, on the other hand, dropped to his knees and gripped TenTen's hands, much to her displeasure. "Oh thank you," he told her, "I'd hate to not be allowed to stay over anymore! Please don't tell Hideki or Jia!"

"Oh I won't," TenTen stated with a sadistic smirk as she pulled her hands from Naruto's, "As long as you three remember I now have dirt, with photographic evidence, on you."

Ren didn't like the sound of that. TenTen didn't seem quite so loving at that moment of time.

"I'll do anything you want," Naruto pleaded.

Sasuke's jaw clinched but he said nothing. Ren decided she would go that same route, for now. If she could talk to TenTen in private maybe she could convince her not to use the photo(s?) against them.

"We're going to the beach later today. Have your asses ready by eleven. We'll do a picnic and hang out with our friends so that Ren can meet people before school on Monday. Do that and I'll think about deleting the pictures," TenTen said smugly as she stated her terms.

The motive was sweet and didn't go unnoticed by Ren; TenTen was trying to help ease her into a new school. Warmth filled Ren's heart and, potentially due to all her mental distress, tears began to form in her eyes momentarily. Abruptly, as she replayed the words in her mind, Ren felt a wave of horror wash over her as she realized that meant she had to wear the swimsuit TenTen and Temari had picked out for her.

"Whatever. I don't care," Sasuke grumbled out as he walked towards his room.

"We'll do it," Naruto said with a nod as he rose to his feet. "Goodnight, Ren-chan. Goodnight, Ten-nee," he called to them quietly (other people were sleeping after all) as he followed behind Sasuke.

"I'm not going to really use the pictures," TenTen whispered when they heard Sasuke's door close then reopen; Naruto wasn't used to the Hyogo's open bedroom door policy.

Relief flooded Ren's heart; she had enough problems without having to worry about drama involving Sasuke and Naruto too. "You aren't? Then why take them," Ren asked as she rose to her feet.

"To show you why I think fate brought you here," TenTen replied as she pulled her phone out, "Plus if I didn't have the pictures they wouldn't believe I took any." Ren was thoroughly puzzled about TenTen's words but kept her mouth shut. "Look," TenTen told her as she held her phone up.

Naruto was laying at one end of the couch on his side, his arms wrapped around her legs and his mouth resting right at her toes; it explained why her toes had been wet. On the other side of the couch Sasuke was laying on his back, Ren had her head on his chest and her legs were on his; Naruto's knees had been bent so she was left with little room. "Wh-what's so s-special a-abou-about i-it," Ren sputtered out nervously. It was probably the most embarrassing picture she had even seen of herself; possibly the strangest too.

"Ignore Naruto and focus on Sasuke," TenTen stated as she pulled her fingers apart to zoom in closer on Ren and Sasuke. "He's smiling," she said quietly with a hint of amusement to her voice.

"H-he's smiling," Ren repeated with a dumbfounded expression on her face. She looked from TenTen to the picture then back again a few times. He had his arms wrapped around her, as if he were trying to protect her from an unseen, evil force.

A blush spread from Ren's cheeks all the way down her neck and up to her hairline; no guy had ever held her like that, not even Shikamaru. A strange thump sent a sliver of pain through her heart. "Wh-what am I supposed t-to do n-now," Ren asked TenTen; she really needed guidance.

"I'm honestly not sure," TenTen said with a shrug; she flexed her cheek muscles on one side of her face to further show her uncertainty, "I just feel like there's a real reason you're here. He's been really dark and gloomy since he found out what happened to his birth parents; that's one reason mom just couldn't give him up. 'He needs people to care about him that he can care about too,' she said, and the older I get the more I think she's right."

"I-I s-see," was all Ren could manage to say. There was a bizarre storm brewing in her heart and she wasn't sure how to handle it.

"Let's get some sleep, we gotta look nice for the beach tomorrow," TenTen said enthusiastically as she hooked her arm through Ren's.

"O-okay," was all the Hyuga could manage to say as her sister lead her down the hallway to their shared room. There was little chance of Ren actually sleeping now.

Ren Note: I'm hoping this chapter is error-free. If it's not, please let me know. I've been kid-free this weekend (for the first time ever) so I put a lot of time and effort into this... but not as much as I probably should have. I ended up writing this one up (it wasn't in the original plan) because i realized the original plan is lacking in some explanations about what happens when I cut off. I have two more chapters ready-ish to go... but plan to only post once a week so that I can stay ahead of this. Since tonight is my last night of freedom I decided to post earlier than expected. I'm planning to post every Tuesday (no promises but I will try). I haven't came up with a schedule yet for my writing but I am working on it, I promise. Thank you so much for your support. It means the world to me :)