Hi! Well, school is boring, fun and hard all at the same time. P.E. is hell. Why'd I have to get the cross-country coach as my teacher?! (sigh) Angsty again.

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Disclaimer: Don't own.

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Ch.21: Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word (Apology Accepted)

Sun streamed in through the window in Megumi's room. She woke up and looked at the clock. '6:30. I think I'll make breakfast, got nothing better to do anyway.'

She walked to the bathroom, getting ready for the day before walking to the kitchen. She walked around, drinking in the morning peace before putting on an apron. "Hmm…pancakes maybe? Let's see. Eggs, milk, oil, flour, butter, leavening agent, bowl…Where's the mixing spoon? Aha! Found it!"

8:30 a.m…..

Kiba yawned, opening the door to his room. He scratched his stomach under the grey shirt he slept in. "What smells good?" he asked sleepily.

Sasuke began walking down the stairs. "I guess she's making breakfast again." he answered.

Sakura yawned and stretched. "Come on, let's go set the table." Sasuke nodded and Kiba waited for them at the foot of the stairs before they all walked into the kitchen.

Flip. Another pancake was turned over and Megumi heard footsteps come into the kitchen. She plated the pancake from the pan and turned around. "Oh hi. Breakfast is almost done," she smiled. They all nodded, muttering morning greetings to her when Kakashi came in. She felt her heart sink.

"Oh, hi Kakashi." she greeted softly, smiling as a pancake cooked.

"Hn."

Megumi sighed disappointedly before plastering on a smile to hide it. "Will you be eating breakfast with us?"

Kakashi closed his eyes. "Not hungry. If you need me, I'll be in my room." he said, turning on his heel and walking away.

Megumi looked down, sighing. "Oh, okay." she answered, her grip on the spatula tightening.

Kiba looked at her worriedly. "Megumi?"

"Nani?" She looked up and saw them looking worriedly at her. She chuckled half-heartedly, knowing she had failed in reassuring them. "I guess I made too much then. Well, breakfast is ready. Help yourself."

Sasuke and Sakura exchanged looks as Megumi busied herself around the kitchen. 'What happened to them?'

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Plates clattered around Megumi and she poked her pancake. Eating seemed like an empty chore. Looking at the pancake on her plate, she had to wonder what the point of eating was if she was just going to die in a few years.

Hinata looked at her worriedly. "Are you okay, Megumi?" she asked.

The girl looked up. "Huh? Oh, yeah." She looked down and sighed. "I guess I'm not that hungry today."

Tenten frowned. "What's wrong?" Sakura placed her hand to Megumi's forehead. "You don't have a fever…"

She waved them off. "It's nothing," she told them.

Shino's brows creased above his sunglasses. "You're lying. Tell us."

"Really, I'm fine." she replied.

Neji narrowed his gaze. "Megumi. What's wrong?" he asked, his voice stern.

"Nothing, really, it's-"

Hinata placed her hand on her arm. "Megumi, what's-"

"IT'S NOTHING! LEAVE ME ALONE!" she shouted. Silence echoed in the room and Megumi looked up to see Hinata with tears in her eyes. She could feel everyone staring at her and she stared down at her plate ashamedly. "S-sorry." she apologized hastily before running into her room, slamming the door behind her.

Sasuke heard the door slam and frowned. "Something's up."

Naruto tapped his fork on his lip. "Come to think of it, sensei's been acting weird this morning too."

Sakura shrugged. "Maybe Kakashi knows something about it. I'll ask him after breakfast."

Breakfast came and went and Sakura climbed the stairs to the second floor. She walked to the end of the hall and knocked on the door. "Kakashi?"

"Come in."

Sakura opened the door, pushing it open with her elbows as she held the tray of pancakes in her hands. "I brought you your breakfast."

"Thanks." he murmured before pulling down his mask and eating. He didn't really care to hide it right now.

Sakura sighed. "Kakashi, tell me. What happened with you and Megumi yesterday?"

He put down his fork, moving the tray away from him as he pulled his mask back up. "Nothing that concerns you."

Sakura frowned. "Kakashi, you need to tell us."

"It's nothing." he replied calmly.

"Kakashi…"

"Dammit Sakura!" he snapped.

Sakura felt her blood boil, her final nerve of patience snapping. "Fine Kakashi, have your fucking temper tantrum. Meanwhile, the rest of us are trying to figure out why Megumi's acting depressed and you're being such a damn prick right now!" She picked up the tray. "I don't know why I even came here." she muttered, the door slamming behind her.

Sasuke looked up as Sakura stomped down the hall. "Find anything out?"

Sakura sighed. "Nothing. Let's ask Kiba."

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"No, nothing weird happened. She seemed a little out of it though." Kiba said as he stood in the doorway of his room.

Sasuke furrowed his brows. 'That's weird.'

"Sakura, I'm going to check on her. You tell everyone else our progress."

"Hai."

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The clock flashed 10:00 and Megumi turned her head, ignoring the numbers. She heard knocking at her door and groaned. She didn't want to have to answer anyone right now. Why couldn't they just leave her alone? "Who is it?" she asked listlessly.

"Hn."

"Door's open, Sasuke."

"Hn." He opened the door and shut behind him. He took in the pulled curtains and the darkness covering the room. He sat on the bed and she moved aside for him to have room. He stared straight at the door. "So what's wrong with you today?"

Megumi buried her face further into her pillow. "I don't want to talk about it."

Sasuke furrowed his brows. "Too bad, we are." he said annoyed.

"Then I won't respond."

"Fine, I'll just talk until you feel like it."

She laughed, the sound painfully empty. "Like you could talk for that long."

"Watch me. For starters, you've been acting weird since this morning. Kiba said you were acting weird on the date."

"…"

She heard him sigh. "Then Sakura asks Kakashi why he's all upset and he snaps at her. What the fuck happened that you aren't telling us?"

"Nothing that concerns you. It's my problem."

"Fine. I guess I can understand personal problems. You don't want any interference, but…do you need any help?" He asked, genuine concern in his voice.

Megumi turned her head to face him. He was really willing to help her? Turning over her shoulder to see if he had a catch, she was shocked by the clarity in his eyes. She could see perfectly well that he really wasn't going to interfere. He really wanted to help. Knowing he would hold his word, she smiled to herself. "Well…if you can tell Kiba to come and talk to me later, that'd be great."

Sasuke gave her a small smile. "Sure."

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Sasuke walked up to Kiba. "Still haven't found out anything, but she wants to talk to you. Knock first though." Kiba nodded and went to her room. He knocked on the door. "Megumi?"

"Come in, Kiba."

Kiba opened the door, closing it behind him as he walked towards her, sitting beside her on her bed. "So what do you want to talk about?"

Megumi took a deep breath. After all those years of rejection from other people, she was finally going to do it. She was finally going to know how all those people she had wanted felt. Somehow, it didn't seem as great as she thought. Was this how it really felt? This gnawing feeling of guilt? "It's about the date last night."

"What about it?" he asked.

"I'm sorry, Kiba. I don't like you. I could never think of you more than a brother figure. I shouldn't have led you on." Megumi said holding his hands.

Kiba blinked. "Oh."

"I'm so sorry, Kiba," she cried, wrapping her arms around him. Megumi knew she shouldn't have done it. She just broke his heart, but she didn't care. She needed comfort and she'd take it where she could find it.

Kiba patted her back comfortingly. "Me too. Me too." God, she felt horrible. Why did he have to be so nice to her? 'Dammit Kiba; yell, scream, act angry at me! Don't comfort me, shove me away! I don't want this. I don't want you to be so understanding! Show me I don't deserve this guilt I'm feeling. That what I'm doing is for the best. Show me hatred.'

But his warmth entered her skin and she could feel him rub soothing circles in his back. Why did he have to be so nice? Why couldn't she have fallen for him? Why couldn't he push her away? Why couldn't she be stronger? She cursed herself for being weak. She shouldn't have sobbed into his chest, but she needed human touch. She wanted someone to care. It was wrong. It was selfish, but it was human, but it didn't dampen the guilt in her heart at all.

"Sorry. You ok?" Megumi asked looking up as she groped blindly for a tissue. 'Are you ok?' She snorted to herself. God, was that all she could say? 'Are you okay?' Ugh, she was terrible.

Kiba shrugged. "I will be. Besides, I should ask you that." he joked, holding up one of her tears. How could he still smile like that? Was this how you were supposed to act when someone broke your heart? Had she had this all backwards? Was she actually supposed to be smiling? "So who's the lucky guy?" he asked.

Megumi shook her head. "I can't tell you. Sorry Kiba," she said earnestly. She really was horrible. She should've at least told him that, but she couldn't trust him with that information and for that, she felt worse.

Kiba nodded in understanding. "Well, good luck."

"Thanks." Megumi smiled. This time, it was real. She watched him leave, giving her a wave goodbye. She waved back. Maybe if things were different, she could've fallen for him, but they weren't and she didn't. She grabbed her shirt tail and wiped her eyes before looking at the mirror. To put it bluntly, she looked like shit. Her eyes were red and puffy and mucus dripped from her nose. It looked like someone put her through the ringer, but she smiled at the determination in her eyes. At least she could be proud of that. 'Now to fix things with Kakashi.'

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Megumi stared at her feet, rubbing the part of her arm not covered by her T-shirt. Her hands felt clammy. She was nervous. Maybe she could just leave right now. He'd never notice and-no. She had to do this, even if he wasn't going to listen.

She dried her hands on her jeans and looked up. Gathering whatever courage she had left, she knocked on the door. "Kakashi?"

The door opened and he smiled. That was before he saw her, when he did, he was cold. "Oh. It's you."

She bit her lip, trying to ignore the pain in her heart. She looked up. "Can I come in?"

Kakashi wordlessly stepped aside and Megumi entered. She heard the door close. "So why are you here?" he asked.

She stared at his carpet. "Well, I wanted to explain about last night…"

"Nothing to explain." he replied quickly.

Megumi looked up. She was sick of playing this game with him. "No, there is. You just don't want to hear it."

Kakashi walked over to his bed. "Maybe because I have no reason to." he said shrugging, his hands still inside his pockets.

"Yes, you do. You're so wrapped up in your own damn feelings, you aren't paying attention to what's happening around you!"

Kakashi turned back. "Oh really?" he asked, sarcasm dripping of his words like acid. She visibly flinched. She could feel it wear away at her skin, but her anger outweighed her fear.

"Yes really. Nothing happened between me and Kiba, why do you think I'm here trying so damn hard to convince you that nothing happened?!"

"…"

Megumi sighed. Being angry would get her nowhere. She took a calming breath. "Just listen to me, okay? Last night, I got a card telling me to meet someone in the park. I went there and waited for an hour. I was going to leave when Kiba showed up. He said he was the person and he wanted to take me on a date. I was going to say no, but he looked so hopeful. I couldn't crush him like that, so I went with him. He took me to the movies and we had ice cream together. He brought me back and that's when the soap opera happened."

Kakashi looked at her skeptically. "How can I be so sure that you're not lying?"

She sighed. She was really tired of this. Was it really worth dealing with this? "Ask Kiba then. Don't worry; I'll leave you alone now." She walked to the door. Megumi opened it, feeling the cold metal of the knob under her fingertips. She smiled sadly and looked over her shoulder. "I thought you'd believe me. I guess I was wrong."

The door clicked shut and Kakashi sighed heavily. This was wearing heavily on him. 'How can I be so sure? Nothing makes sense anymore.' He looked up, rubbing his chin. "I guess I'll have to ask Kiba."

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Kakashi stepped into the dining room when he spotted Kiba sitting at the table, his vision was directed at the window, but his eyes were clouded and distant. He sighed. He'd have to face it sooner or later.

He walked over, pulling a chair across from him. Resting his hands on the table, he looked at him and asked, "Kiba, what did happen last night?"

Kiba spoke, never letting his gaze stray from the window. "I asked Megumi out. Turns out, she doesn't like me the same way I like her. She didn't want to hurt me so she let me take her out. I should have known." he sighed.

Kakashi's eyes widened. 'She was telling the truth, all this time and I-'

"Thank you for your time."

Kiba just stared out the window. A sigh escaped his lips and he pressed his head against the cool glass. 'I'm such an idiot.'

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Megumi stared up at her ceiling, thinking over the day so far. She felt exhausted, but managed to turn her head to look at her clock. It was already four in the afternoon and she wondered where the day had gone? 'Probably out the window like everything else,' she thought wryly.

A knock sounded on her door. Megumi said nothing. "Can I come in?"

It was Kakashi.

Should she let him in? Should she tell him to go away? He couldn't blame her. He wouldn't be able to, he didn't have the right to blame her for anything but using Kiba and breaking his heart, but what if he was going to come in and yell at her? What did it matter? She didn't care anymore.

"Sure." Megumi said staring at her ceiling.

He entered quietly, closing the door behind him. He stood there, unmoving and she lay on her bed the same way. She flicked her gaze to him. "So what's the occasion?" she asked, the ceiling filling her vision once more.

"I…wanted to apologize. I've kind of been an ass lately."

Megumi scoffed.

"Ok, more than kind of. I just want you to know that I'm sorry for overreacting and I'm sorry for not believing you."

"…"

Kakashi sighed, his body drooping. "I can see you're still mad at me. I'll leave now."

He turned to leave. His hand was on the doorknob. He turned it. He was about to open the door when he heard it. "…wait."

Kakashi turned back, his brow raised nonchalantly, his posture lazy, but the surprise in his eye betrayed it all. She was surprised too. She didn't know why she did that. She could've let him leave, forget about him, make him suffer like she did, but she didn't. Love made people do stupid things.

Megumi sat up, sliding her legs off the edge of the bed before standing. "I'm...sorry too. I sort of lost it today." She hesitantly wrapped her arms around him; he did nothing to stop her. "Forgive?" she asked.

Kakashi chuckled. "Sure." he said ruffling her hair. She closed her eyes. Though she was annoyed that her hair was getting messed up, she had to admit, it felt nice.

"We have to apologize to everyone for earlier. You realize that, right?"

Kakashi's face fell slightly. "Oh…right."

She threw her head back and laughed. It felt good to laugh again. "You forgot, didn't you?"

Kakashi shrugged. "I don't see why I'd have to remember if I have you to remind me." he said patting her head.

She laughed. It felt really good. "So what would happen if I were to disappear or die tomorrow? What would you do then?" His eye widened and she chuckled. "I'm kidding, but you never know when you will die. It's like what happened to Steve Irwin this week. No matter how invincible you seem, you're still human. You live, you die, and then you disappear. It makes you want to live life to the fullest, knowing that at any given moment, you can die."

"I guess you're right. It's how we shinobi live everyday, but it gives living that much more meaningful. Come on, let's tell everyone we're okay now."

She nodded. "Then, we'll have our sing-off in celebration," she smiled.

Kakashi looked at her. "You're weird," he said bluntly.

"I know, but that's why you love me," she smiled.

Kakashi tensed. "Um…"

"It was a joke."

"Oh."

She giggled.