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Chapter 14

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Friends and Foes

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His grip tightened around my neck. He was not the ordinary type of opponent. It was obvious in his firm grasp. I struggled harder and tried to break his fingers.

"Let her go."

I went still at the sound of Sasuke's voice.

The man in front of me didn't move. He remained facing and holding me as Sasuke's figure emerged out of the shadows from the corner. His eyes didn't hold the same bloody color of the other. It was in its' calm shade of dark gray.

"Is this your idea of infiltration?" The other man's voice was a deeper version of Sasuke's.

He didn't turn around to meet his stare. He let go of his hold on me and I stumbled down on the ground. I could still feel the faint soreness of his grip around my neck as I tried to clear my breathing pipes.

"She's one of us." Sasuke said.

I was puzzled to hear him talk in a not so threatening way.

"You've gone slow." The man said as he met his gaze. I saw his long hair was pulled up in a bind behind his neck. It felt strange since he and Sasuke weren't even in striking stances. "You didn't mention a tiny detail about bringing new recruits tonight."

"It didn't exactly cross my mind." Sasuke said as he watched my face turned into a confused one. A part of me was relieved to see he was free of any gashes and bruises. He turned back to the hooded man. "You shouldn't be here anymore, Itachi."

Uchiha Itachi. Of course.

Kakashi told me a few things about him. He had abandoned his duties in Mortis Guild and was reported to had been helping the demi-humans, particularly Orochimaru. He had been missing for almost a year now.

But what I didn't understand...

"Yeah, I shouldn't. But I sensed a chakra coming from here and was actually a bit surprised to find this... girl of yours." Itachi spoke, his eyes were now in the tinge of black as it scanned my appearance again.

Now that I could see his face more clearly under the light post, his resemblance to Sasuke was very much apparent. They looked more like twin brothers. Almost the same height and built.

"Kabuto is being blocked by Iruka and Naruto a few corners away from here. You should be heading there already if you want him captured." he said to Sasuke. He glanced back at me before turning to him again. "I expect her to be shut up about this little encounter."

"Hey, hold on a sec—" I tried to speak.

"She will." Sasuke said. He didn't move a single finger since he got there. He didn't even look surprised in seeing his brother there at all.

"Be cautious. Everyone expects you won't let your mind linger on other things." Itachi said as he moved passed him, his black hooded robe swayed as if he was more like floating rather than walking on the pavement. He took one last look at him. "Pray that this won't be our last meeting, brother."

"It won't." Sasuke mumbled.

"Hey, wait—" I tried to run after him, but Sasuke only blocked my way before I could even move pass him.

And in a blink, Itachi was gone. It was only him and I left there in the cold. There was a deadpan expression on Sasuke's face as he stood there in front of me.

"What—" I tried to find the right words to say. "Are you siding with your brother? Are you covering him up?"

I ran a hand across my face in distress.

"It's not what you think." Sasuke said in his still voice. He held one of my wrists as he took off in a fast run into the night again. "I'll explain later. Just do me a favor and pretend like you saw nothing, nerd."

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Naruto flew across the park and hit the pile of garbage cans against the wall, causing loud clashes of metals. Iruka was fighting head to head with Kabuto by the time Sasuke and I got there. There was a gash on the side of Iruka's face and Kabuto's left arm was now bleeding.

"Just give it up, Kabuto. You're outnumbered." Iruka said as he stood a short distance from him, trying to predict his next move.

Kabuto looked aggravated now and his twisted smile had diminished. He sprinted toward the opening at the other end.

Sasuke caught him and threw a hard punch on his stomach, making him fall down. He immediately recovered and stood up to stab him with a dagger. He missed by an inch from his chest. He swung again and Sasuke countered it by pulling a thin katana from under his coat. The tip of Kabuto's blade hit his katana's hilt instead, which was silvery white in color. Sasuke jumped back to maintain a small distance as he shoved his katana back under his coat.

"Where is that stupid shark when you need him." Kabuto cursed.

He pulled something from his robes and a number of shurikens rained toward Sasuke and Iruka. He hastily broke into a run as they dodged the sharp objects.

I immediately followed him as I pulled another kunai bomb from my jacket and tossed it toward him. It landed on the fence beside him and exploded, sending a group of fragments shooting up in the air. Kabuto staggered on the ground once more.

He grabbed a small metal pole near him and swung it toward me when I approached. He missed as I hastily threw a punch on his face. His movement was fast and he struck my right knee with the hard bar. I let out a cry as I slipped onto the cold, wet ground.

Sasuke appeared from thin air and hit Kabuto hard on the chest with his fist, sending him zooming across the area and hitting a parked car at the end. I felt his chakra emanating from his muscles. Kabuto hit the rear head first, shattering the window glasses at the back of the car. It started to alarm loudly the moment it got knocked, its lights flashing on and off.

Kabuto wasn't moving anymore. Sasuke and Iruka guardedly moved toward him, both their weapons still drawn. Iruka kicked his leg first, and when he didn't budge, he pulled his shoulder back to face him upward. There was a streak of blood crawling down Kabuto's forehead as he lied there unconscious and motionless. His dagger was out of his hold and his broken glasses fell off his face.

"Call Shizune quick." Iruka ordered, inspecting the unmoving body. He stood up and looked around us. "He's still breathing. Stay here and guard the place. I'll look for Kakashi."

"Got it." Sasuke spoke as Iruka disappeared in the nearest opening. He walked back towards me, eyeing my sore knee. "Can you get up?" he asked as he took my arm and placed it around his neck to help me stand up.

"Yeah." I flinched from the pain. "I don't think it's broken. Just a bit sore."

Naruto came to see Kabuto's immobile body against the rear of the car, which was still alarming and blinking. He had a bruise on his cheek. Some garbage pieces were still dangling from his coat.

"Geez. Glad that's over." he puffed out. "One hell of a sneaky creep."

"You okay?" I asked him.

He turned and pulled a supple smile at me. He could still manage to pull a positive face even if there was a bruise on it. "Yeah. Got some scratches but still good. You don't seem as good, though."

He started to kick the noisy car, trying to get it to shut up as Sasuke flipped his cellular phone open and dialed a number. He held me there to support me as he talked to someone over it.

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"It's not that bad. You might be able to walk normally again after a couple of days." Shizune said as she snipped the end of the bandages around my knee and closed it. She inspected it as I sat on the stretcher inside one of the gigantic vans of the medical crew which shortly came to the scene. She handed me a small, round ointment. "Continue to put this on it until the soreness subsided."

"Thanks, Shizune-sama."

She hopped off the van and strode away to the other staff. A few nurses also stood outside the door of the van, where Naruto and Iruka were, treating the cuts on their faces. Naruto was screaming at the fat nurse who was dabbing a cotton ball on his cheek.

"Ow! Hey—that stings! Watch it, will you?"

"Stand still or I'll shove this up your anus!"

I could see Kakashi talking to Anko near the other van across the street. Kabuto was no where in sight anymore. The red and yellow lights emitting from the vehicles were flashing all over the place. I heard Iruka discussing with someone outside the van about witnesses who might had seen what happened.

The shark-looking guy we encountered earlier, which goes by the name of Hoshikagi Kisame from what I'd heard, had escaped while fighting Kakashi. Iruka found them along the street several houses away from us. Kakashi was still in good shape.

I noticed Sasuke sitting so silently at the foot of the van. He was the cleanliest among all of us, aside from Kakashi. He didn't look like he just came from a fight at all. He was the nearest one to where I was sitting. He was just crouching there with his legs propped against his chest, his jaw resting against the back of his upper arms which rested on his knees. He seemed to be thinking about something again.

"You alright?" I asked.

He turned his head but didn't exactly meet my gaze. He just nodded, then turned back to where he was looking blankly at before. I lowered my voice and made sure the others wouldn't hear me.

"I know it's not my business but... You're worried about your brother, aren't you?"

Of course he is, they're brothers, you dimwit. My head answered.

It took him three seconds to respond.

"He wanted to do it." he spoke.

"Do you know what he's doing here?"

He bowed his head a bit, facing the ground now, yet he didn't look at me.

"Listen..." he spoke quietly. "Everybody thinks he's siding with Orochimaru, that's why he disappeared in the guild... But that's not the case."

He paused. Naruto and the other nurses had moved to the other side, farther away from us, as one of the staff approached with a basket of coffee drinks.

"He's on a restricted task to serve as a spy for the guild, and only the headmistress and I know." he said in a composed voice. "Of course, everyone else thinks his abandonment was for a negative reason."

"Oh."

"It's a risky assignment." he continued to speak in a soft tone. "I wouldn't hear from him in weeks, not knowing if he's still alive or not. And then he'd suddenly call from an untraceable number. And then he'd be gone again."

Yes. I remembered him talking to someone outside Naruto's house before, when I followed them during the band practice. I was right about the uneasiness in his actions at that time. I was also a bit relieved to know it wasn't any lover at the other line.

"He's the one who gave the message about Kabuto's appearance." I stated.

"Obviously." The hint of snobbishness was there in his tone again. Then it shifted back to its softer nature. "He's been a top notch student in our younger years, with high marks in everything and always making our parents proud and all, but he could pretend and act against the guild if he had to. Which is why the headmistress chose him... I would've taken the job myself, yet he's been a rogue several years ahead of me. He's the perfect son."

There was animosity in the way he spoke the last words. I was actually a little flattered that he'd said these things to me. He looked like he'd been thinking a lot of things lately. I could tell by just staring at his posture there at the foot of the van.

"Are you worried that he might not come back safely?"

"No one really gives a damn about what I think." Sasuke said, though I sort of objected with that retort in my head. "Our parents don't really know about it, so all the while they thought he had abandoned everything. It was chaos back home for months. He's their number one priority... At first, I thought I might fill in the gap for him while he's away, yet they were somewhat indifferent towards me. They didn't want to be bothered while they mourn for their eldest son. It's a bunch of crap, really... They'd be forgetting about everything if he comes home in one piece and breathing. And it's another thing if he didn't."

"And you're frustrated about what to do." I murmured.

"Everything is frustrating in this goddamned world." He hated to admit that he was. "Here I thought our family couldn't get any colder, but I was wrong. Who would want to have a rebellious, trouble-making second son, anyway?"

I listened for a moment.

"I wouldn't mind, if you're my son..."

He fell silent afterwards and only watched the other crew clear the area. His face didn't show any sign of feeling anymore.

I always thought that Sasuke already has everything...

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"Oh, good God! What happened to you?" my mother exclaimed when I got home late that evening.

Sasuke insisted on taking me home after and it came more of a surprise to my mom after seeing a gorgeous guy supporting me to the house. He held one of my arms around his shoulders as he walked me to the door, where my mom stood with her eyes popping out. She was never used to seeing me with a guy.

Sasuke was usually confident in front of people, yet he looked a bit timid that night. We both stood awkwardly at the door.

"Good evening." he muttered.

My mother only stared at him in shock, probably searching for different possibilities of why a handsome lad had sprouted in our front door. Knowing her, she had a weakness when it came to good-looking men.

"Oh... well, my goodness." she uttered. A colorful cooking apron was still fastened around her.

"Can we come in?" I asked, interrupting her steady stare.

She turned back to me, her facial expression altering. "What on Buddha's name happened to you?"

"I tripped." I muttered as I tried to walk inside. Sasuke only stood at the door and let me entered by myself.

"Where? On the great wall of China?"

"Just... in sports class, that's all."

"I'll get you some ice in the fridge." she said. She turned back to Sasuke and flashed a big smile. "Why, come in, come in. What's your name, hun?"

"He'll already be going." I said in a whining tone, turning my head back to glare at Sasuke.

He looked uncertain of what to do. He just watched both of us inside the house.

"Well, he might be hungry considering what time it is already." Mom insisted. "Want some coffee, dear? I make good coffee and tea."

Sasuke ran a hand through his hair and just gave a small smile. I was impressed that he was trying to be polite in front of her, even if he was a conceited bastard in school. "Nah. It's all right. I'll be off already anyway."

He gazed at me before turning around.

"I'll see you back in school, nerd." he said and turned back outside to where his motorbike was parked. "Don't be such a klutz next time, got that."

I never got to say thank you to him at all.

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"Good job, Haruno." Kakashi gave a quick pat on my arm as he walked passed me at the hallway. He soon disappeared as he turned to the corner.

I was on the way to my next class with Ino that morning, carrying a folder of report papers with me. My leg was still a bit swollen, but I could still walk by myself.

"Look who's catching up." Ino grinned as we moved along the hallway. She was carrying a pile of reports with both her hands, too. "I heard Kabuto wasn't talking. Dad mentioned it during breakfast today. He just kept on threatening them and wasn't spilling anything out about Orochimaru's hideout."

Ino's father worked at the Interrogation Unit of Mortis Guild. I saw him once when he picked up Ino from school. She was the exact female replica of him.

"What're they going to do with him?"

"Hold him there in captivity before he harms more civilians. He's a mad man. The headmistress was off to the Interrogation office to examine him."

We arrived at the room of our next class. I wasn't surprise at all to find several pieces of gums stuck on my chair. I looked around the room and found a group of girls sniggering at one side, their heads huddled together as if whispering something to each other at the sight of me.

"Oh—just ignore them, Sakura. They're just a bunch of blockheads who can't think of anything better to do." Ino exhaled after seeing my face heated up in annoyance. I was about to take a piece of scratch paper out of my bag when she handed me one. "Here. Make sure your skirt won't stick."

"Thanks." I muttered. "I hate this school."

"Don't say that." Ino said as she sat on her seat. She tossed her long blonde hair over her shoulders. "By the way, I'm planning to drop by the mall to get a manicure after lunch today. Wanna come?"

I was not really the type of girl who goes to places to pamper herself nor was I a fan of putting tints on my nails, but I didn't mind going there to accompany a friend. But I had a different excuse today.

"I would, Ino, but I already agreed to come with someone after lunch today. Sorry."

Her round eyes widened a little. "Who? Sasuke-kun?"

Of course, that snob was the first on the list of guys she would automatically think of. Then again, I was a bit uncomfortable to tell her about it.

"No, but—" I drummed my fingers against my desk. "I already told Sasori I'd come with him to his photo shoot at—"

"Sasori?" Ino nearly cried out. "That punk Sasori? Since when have you been seeing him?"

"I'm not seeing him—not like what you're thinking." I said defensively. "It just so happens that we have the same hobby and I'm just going to attend one of his photo shoots today."

"Ohoho—don't tell me he's going to shoot you in nude!"

"No, that's absurd." I muttered. "I'll be more like his assistant—carrying the reflectors and lenses and such. Don't get any dirty ideas."

Ino started laughing. I bet she was already imagining something disturbing in her head.

"I can't believe you're seeing someone from the rival school." she snorted.

"I'm not. You're being ridiculous."

"You're gonna be in big trouble if someone else finds out." Ino chuckled.

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The days had gone very cold and the first snow flake I'd seen this season had fallen from the humid sky. Time moved fast while I was busy catching up in the academy. Winter came in the last season of the year.

I didn't have any more subjects to attend to that day (apart from the training my teammates would be having late in the afternoon), which was why I agreed to go along with Sasori's photo shoot near the St. Francis Bridge when he called and invited me the day before. The stream of water under the bride was turning glacial, making it perfect for a calendar picture.

I was wrapped in thick, beige coat and was drinking a cup of hot cacao as I watched him and another photographer took shots across the small bridge. I stood near the bushes at the side, preventing myself to quiver from the coldness. Sasori was covered in a thick, gray coat with a dark red muffler around his neck as he kneeled down and adjusted his lens as he pointed it toward the snow-covered bridge. A number of people were crossing it and I could see the heat of their breaths puffing out in the wintry weather.

"Glad you made it." he said to me as he peered in the lens. His back was turned to me.

"I didn't come here for nothing. I was thinking of building my own photo collection." I grinned before putting the paper cup back to my lips and drank.

"Don't worry, you'll get your chance." He smirked. "I'll show yours to the buyers, too. Maybe they'll like it."

"Really? That would be great."

I didn't know how Sasori could still manage to find the time to take and sell pictures with his busy schedule. He was already accepted at the Mortis Org base in Ame Institute. And as far as I was concerned, he had a lot of tasks to be fulfilling, too. I was also a bit relieved to see that he and the other guys in Konoha Academy weren't having any fusses these days. I presumed both parties were too busy being rogue students to even hinder in each others' lives.

There was a park and a church nearby. Sasori would be taking his chances today to get some good shots there, too. This was my fourth time to accompany him to a photo shoot. Once, we did a formal shoot with a group of monster truck drivers for a sports magazine. A lot of photographers and fanatics were there. I felt more like I was part of the background at that time since I didn't really know any of them. Sasori tried to see to it that I wasn't feeling left out. It felt weird how sort of close I had gotten to him since the first time I met him. I didn't see it as dates, but more of a free time with a friend. I was more comfortable being around him than before.

"Hey, I know you."

I heard a girl's voice from afar. A blonde girl with a pink bonnet and a brunette one in violet coat approached Sasori at the base of the bridge. They were both tall and pretty. Looked like a pair of models.

"How've you been? It's been a while since we saw you back at the studio." The blonde had a flashy smile.

"Yeah, been busy have we?" the other giggled.

Sasori smiled and greeted them casually. They talked there for about a minute. Sasori gestured toward me as he talked to them, as if introducing me from a distance. The two girls only stared at me, then turned back to him in a more lively chitchat. They looked like they wanted to eat him whole.

Who would want to meet a boring nerd like me, anyway. My clothes weren't even from any famous brand.

The two girls lingered away as Sasori went back toward me, holding his camera on one hand.

"Want to try?" he asked as he handed me the camera.

I nodded and took it after throwing my paper cup at the nearest garbage can.

"You're going to shoot them soon?" I asked.

"Those two? Not really. They're more into fashion and portrait types. I prefer sceneries better." Sasori said. His cheeks were reddening due to the chilly air. "I've shot them once, when Deidara invited me there. He—um, well—knows a lot of the hot spots."

The party animal that Deidara is.

I chuckled as we both walked toward the nearby park. The slides and seesaws were coated with white snow. The few kids out there were playing snowball fights and making snow angels.

"I only wanted to take shots for travel magazines, you know, but the requests from other people have started coming these days. It's not really my thing at all." he said, rubbing the side of his head as he followed me wherever I was going at the park.

"I don't mind. Why are you explaining yourself, anyway?" I said against the camera.

He had started playing with the snow on his feet now, like a little boy.

"I... I just don't want you to get the wrong ideas, that's all." he murmured.

The sky was filled with clouds of snow, making it hard to know the exact time of the day nowadays. It was always hazy. Hours soon passed and it was almost five in the afternoon when I got reminded of the time. My training with Kakashi and my teammates was at five-thirty.

Sasori was using Deidara's red car that afternoon since his motorbike and roofless jeep were useless in the snow and the slippery road. We turned to a corner, in front of a cookie shop only a block away from the academy. The white flakes had started to fall again.

"You can pull over here. I can walk there by myself." I said.

"Are you sure? It's getting colder." Sasori said, looking up at the flecks of snow descending down the streets. The window shields were a blur. "Let me just drive a block away."

"No, it's all right. It's just several steps away from here." I insisted. I didn't like the thought of him being seen by a classmate of mine. Nobody wants a fight. I pushed the passenger door open. "Thanks. See you around, alright."

He still looked a bit hesitant. "Yeah... Don't get sick."

I pushed the door closed and was already trudging my way to the entrance gate when I heard the car door opened again followed by soft thumps of footsteps.

"Hey Miss pinky-hair, you left your house keys in the car!" Sasori called.

"Oh—thanks! Must've slipped from my pockets." He tossed them to me and turned back toward his vehicle.

"See ya!" he called, disappearing inside the vehicle.

The air was more freezing than before. Heck, how on earth are we going to train at this state? Probably in one of the basements, gyms or unoccupied rooms in the buildings, I was guessing.

The red car gave one honk at me as it gave a turn and drove away.

And amongst the white flakes and the wintry air and the dozens of students lingering at that block, I wasn't aware that at one of the sidewalks there, the bastard of my class stood.

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I jogged at the empty hallway toward the locker room, which was more like half limping and half jogging due to my swollen knee. Classes had been dismissed early today due to the foggy weather. I could hear the echo of my footsteps along the corridor. I would've like to be absent from training today but that didn't seem to be a good idea since I was already in the verge of proving myself to be dedicated in the org.

I opened my locker and pulled out my extra clothes for training before I shut it closed again. But before I could turn back around, I noticed another reflection of someone behind me against its glossy surface.

"You enjoy what you're doing?" his voice was intimidating behind me.

I hastily turned around and met those mysterious pair of eyes of his. I could never get used in staring at them, especially this close. And I could see anger at them now.

Sasuke was an inch away from my face. He was wearing a black coat. I could see some bits of snow on top of his head and shoulders, damping them.

"What?" I asked.

"You heard me." he mocked. I could see the fury in his eyes even if his face remained uncoiled. He was in his threatening presence. "You like playing games, don't you?"

"What are you talking about?"

THUNGG.

He hit the locker next to mine. His right arm extended near my face. The sound echoed around us.

"Don't play stupid with me. I already know it." he said heatedly. He was towering in front me.

"Know what?" I exclaimed. I had never seen him this intimidating. He was worse than before.

"Since when have you two been together?" he said. "You enjoy fooling guys around? Are you that much of a flirt?"

"What is wrong with you?" I shoved him away. A part of me was frightened of him and a part of me was really irritated. There was already an idea about it inside my head, but I couldn't be too sure... How would he know?

He rested his arm back to his side but his gaze never left me.

"Do you like him?" he asked in a lower tone. His face was blank. "Do you like Sasori?"

I was a bit nervous he would say that. There was a hint of guilt that rose inside me. And I didn't understand why. I didn't understand why I should feel this way when I was around him. But I understood one thing... I couldn't deny what was there. He must had seen us together.

"He's my friend." I stated plainly. "What about him?"

"Friend?" he repeated. "Do you know what other things could stand behind the word 'friend'?"

"It's your dirty mind that's playing in your head." I said irritably.

"And what am I, then? Am I just a friend, too?"

I scowled at him. I wanted to throw the clothes I was clutching at his infuriating, handsome face.

"I asked you the other night... and you said to give you some time." he said. There was a trace of sensitivity in his voice now. "Does that 'time' means to fool around with someone else first?"

"It's not like that." I tried to explain. "I told you, Sasori is just my friend. I only really met him in the city library."

He turned his head to the side and looked for nothing in particular in aggravation. I had never seen him with this mixed up emotion in his face before. His hard wall was cracking down.

"And you've been seeing him ever since. I got it." he mumbled. "Then when you're back in this fucked up school you'd be seeing me afterwards. That's just how you play, don't you?"

"Can't you understand anything in your freaking head?" I yelled in annoyance.

"What, then?" he mocked. His face was drawn back to me.

In all my life, I'd never been like this with a guy. I was being more emotionally attached to him than I wanted. He was all a woman could ask for, which was why I was afraid. I was scared to fall hard for him and face a time when everything would ache so much.

"Can we get something straight?" he asked forthrightly. "Do you want me?"

I couldn't help but blush at that thought. If only there was someone along the corridor to see us and break this. I only looked up at his eyes. I could see the intensity of his feelings there.

I turned around and started walking away. And then, he pulled my arm. The anger in his face had subsided and was replaced by a different one now.

"What. Did Sasori exhaust you too much?" he sneered. His face was serious.

I raised my free arm to slap him and he caught it just before it hit his smooth cheek. He didn't let go of it after. I tried to yank my arm back but he only held my wrist securely. I pulled again but he didn't let go. And then, he tugged me to him. My body entirely found his.

He caught my mouth and met it with his. He bit my lower lip and licked it. His kiss was hard and fiery. He held me firmly against him as if I was something he hadn't been tasted in a long while. His hand ran across my hair and my back, holding me tightly against his. I felt his warm breath on my face and neck. It felt good having him pressed against me, in a sinful way.

He pushed me against the locker as he let out a gasp and caught my lips again. My back hit the surface with a thud. I could hear the sound of our movement against the metal. I clutched at his shirt and felt his warmth. I could feel his toned body under my hands as I ran through his clothes.

I missed his touches, even if it didn't seem right.

He pulled the belt of my coat off, tugged it open and pressed his body against mine. He pushed his leg between my thighs as he bit my neck and kissed it, burying his face at the crook. I ignored the soft pain on my knee. I ran my hand on the messy hairs on the back of his head and he groaned. He pushed my back against the lockers again.

Feelings of anger and wanting were colliding with each other. I'd never wanted someone like this so badly. He was like a drug. He could make me forget about everything. I wanted him there against me, but I didn't let my feelings got the better of me.

I suddenly became upset with myself. I started pushing him away.

He thought the gesture was a passionate response, and he only held me tighter and locked his lips to mine.

"No-" I pulled my face away, breaking us away.

He stared at me in puzzlement for a moment. His hands found the back of my waist and rested them there. He blinked.

"Did I hurt you?" he was almost out of breath when he spoke and glanced at my knee.

I'd already forgotten about my injured leg at that point and was rather astonished that he had thought about it. There was more color in his face now, looking slightly flushed with our contact.

I pushed him softly away.

"You don't really want this." I said calmly, my breathing was slowly turning normal again.

"Who are you to tell me what I want?" he responded.

He tried to kiss me again, but this time, my hand was lose and I slapped him across the face. He froze for a second and stared in surprise. I felt the impression that I was probably the first woman to had ever hit him. I guessed he wasn't used to having the word 'no' being used on him.

Then he let me go, pushing me away against the locker to maintain a gap from him. He wasn't being gentle anymore.

I knew I was to blame, too. I was sending him confused responses and he couldn't understand it at all. He wasn't that experienced emotionally, no matter how superb he was in all other aspects.

"I get it." he said in a deep voice. "Don't worry, I'll never bother you again."

I saw the hurt in his eyes before he moved them away and walked out of the corridor. There was a sudden feeling of coldness the moment he walked away. There was a detached feeling as I was left standing there alone, the feeling of guilt slowly creeping up inside me.

For the first time, I was concerned about my actions toward him. I know I had done something wrong... He was possessive and very stubborn, but I found myself the guilty one. I felt the coldness of the air filling up inside me.

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Note: Again, thank you for the reviews. Sorry it took quite a long while to update.