Chapter 25: New Game, New Rules.

Lori laughed to herself. It was funny. Tobirama said they were just "on the wrong side's of the battelfield", how amusing that he was right. Her eyes lost the gleam they had. It was a shame that they could never be allies, but orders were orders. Right?

"You know," Tobirama started. "If you need help with anything. A problem your having, you can ask." It's as if he read her mind. "It seems like your constantly fighting yourself, never able to break free of some invisible chains that bind you to grief and torment." He watched as her head stared out at the water. An emotional storm being drowned by despair and knowing.

It was some moments of silence before either one of them spoke. "...How?" Lori whispered. "How am I to... Ask for help in a situation unstable and confining? When I know there will be nothing left?" Tobirama frowned a confused expression on his face. How would there be nothing left if she asked for help? Was she truly in such a predicament that she believed they would turn on her?

"I've watched you." Tobirama later a hand on her shoulder releasing a claming coolness. "Your different from what you may believe. We all know this." Tobirama now understood what his brother meant. Upon talking to her more and reading her emotions, her body language, he realized maybe he was wrong. Her moral code and interactions with the others, specifically Itama, proved that she was not what he originally thought she was. Instead she was a doll, a shell of the carefree girl she would have possibly been.

A feeling of relief flooded Lord's chest as silent tears traveled down her now red cheeks as the next words she spoke were filled with absolutely anything but sorrow. "Thank you, Tobirama Sama."

It was now the first day back to school. Dressed in regular clothes only Shisui, Itachi, Itama, Jeri, and Lori were leaving for the day.

"Now, I hope you all understand that maybe it will avoid less mishaps if only a few of you go to school. If that works, then I can gradually get you guys in too." Takahashi knew that Hashirama especially wanted to go to school, but because of what happened the last time, that was postponed.

"I shouldn't have beat you with a desk." Lori says, her own way of apologizing to which Hashirama jokingly holds a hand to his nose and laughs it off.

Kushina glared. "You did what now?" Lori fearing the firey, hot headed woman started to make a break for the door behind her.

"Gotta go!" She yelled as she ran out of the house. Mikoto put a hand on her friends shoulder calmingly as Jeri and the others ran out too. Soon they were on the bus going towards their new school. Lori sat herself beside Itama while Jeri managed to squuze between the super sexy Itachi and Shisui. Jeri was practically living the dream!

"So, Jeri are you excited to go back?" Shisui asked in a cheerful tone. Jeri replied that she was and Itachi took a brief observation of the kids on the bus. There were small kids maybe only five or six years old at the front and midleschoolers, teens, and high schoolers stretching onward. At least they had enough sense to put youngest first and oldest onwards. However, he thought it would be smarter to put younger children on a bus of their own, that way no one could be picked on by someone more mature.

"I am kinda looking forward to school here too." Lori looked back at the two boys and one girl. Itachi gave a blink while Shisui and Jeri grinned before slapping her on the back.

"Really? You hate school!" Jeri exclaims to which Lori gives an explanation for her sudden change in attitude.

"Yes, but the break was a long one." And by long, Lori meant painfully long. Just how much Shit had happened in a meet week or two? Maybe three? With ninjas as their makeshift family at the house?

"I don't wanna leave you." Itama whines holding tightly to Lori's waist. The little ball of love was truly attached to her. Lori puts a hand on his head gently ruffling his hair. "It will be fine Itama, you'll be brave for me. Won't you?" Maybe a push of encouragement would do some good. Her theory was proven true as he grinned and said, "Of course I can!"

Once the bus stopped they all had to get off one by one. Itama jumped off and waved to his older friends before being lead by the teacher to his new classroom. Lori wasn't worried. He knew not to use chakra and was a sweet kid anyhow. When it came their turn though, everyone took their sweet time as if they were groggy from all the sleeping in over break.

At the office the repeated process of receiving a schedule was as old as time for Lori. She'd been through this how many times? She took at glance at Jeri's schedule.

'World Geography... Mrs. Cilou' Her heart felt tight as she saw the words on her schedule too, until she saw the teachers name. Mrs. Mila. She wouldn't have a class with her it seemed. Not one. Until maybe next semsester, she hoped.

"Does anyone have fax?" Shisui showed his schedule to everyone in the group, only Lori raising her hand. "At least I have you, Lori-chan!" Shisui was going to throw an arm over her shoulder, but resisted the urge. He had to. He didn't want to hurt her, he was already close enough as it was. Both physically and emotionally. Itachi noticed this and honestly, the thought of supposedly losing his balance while walking or bumping Shisui into the girl he longed for crossed his mind.

"Kids, it's time to go to class." The receptionist for the high school called giving them to go into the hall of mayhem. Kids were crowding the halls as teachers talked with one another. Eventually, after waiting for the halls to clear a little more everyone went their separate ways, but the feeling of being watched didn't seem too far away.

On her way to her first class of the day, Psychology, a pair of blue-green eyes held with hers in a hard stare. The boy was about her age if not a year or so older, dark hair of ebony slicked back, shaved even almost to the extent of showing the skin on his head. Their glares crossed until they had passed eachother, him bumping his shoulder into Lori's.

Not daring to look back she speed walked to her class, eyes bobbing in her head. 'No. No!' There was no way. 'This can't be happening...'

Hey guys it's me! I am back, sorry I hadn't made another chapter. And I am sorry for previously canceling Perfect Storm, I was really wrapped up in graduation and a lot of different thi ng s were happening at the same time... Now, I can PROMISE you, that perfect Storm will be continued until it is finished.

Please tell me what you thought about the chapter, reviews and PM's are accepted and appreciated! I just hope you all like the Chapter!

Who is the boy Lori met? What are your thoughts about the characters?