The death's of the fallen members of the rescue team took a hard blow to most everyone, and though Lori and Jeri had not known them long, and had even gotten attacked by them more than once, they certainly didn't believe death was a suitable punishment from the heavens. The rest of the week had passed, and soon it was time to go back to school, but there was something that kept nagging Lori. She stole a glance across the room to where Jeff was.

His eyes were that of a predator's.

"Lori-Chan," Shisui spoke, his eyes revealing the same look in her own eyes despite his voice being smooth as silk. "You've been on edge lately, tell me why." He was right, there was no denying it. The way she had acted a few days prior, when Jeff had shown a desire to sit beside the innocent, unknowing, Jeri was a red flag in itself. She had shouted, caused a scene, and even rushed to her sister figure's side as if he was about to gouge her eyes out. "Come on, we can go outside if you need to. The teacher is going to the lunchroom to get water anyway." Lori felt her eyes burning, either from lack of sleep, or from the stress imposed upon her.

"I'm fine, thank you." Laying her head on her desk she saw the briefest smirk flash across her sworn enemy's face. His smug satisfaction only serving to sicken her even more than the thought of taking that darn pill did. Consequently, he was also her ally, in terms of working for the same people.

"Lori, sweetie, did you take your medicine yet?" Jeff was seriously getting on her nerves. Sweetie, really? She didn't even have to look to feel the strain coming off Shisui, the emotions could be felt at such close proximity, and when she did look, his face remained that of a smile.

"No," She answers. The feeling Jeff gave off was invading. "I forgot, I can't even remember what I had for lunch four days ago."

Jeff hugged her tightly. "Really? Because I remember you being on time with your medicine." The smile on his face was a mask of restraining himself from choking her. "I'll bring you the extra bottle that the doctor ordered, I'll make sure you take it ever school day from now on." His lips brushed against her ear, sparking a chilling tremor across her spine. "Like the good friend I am."

Shisui now openly glared at the guy, Lori's face showed her true feelings, she was irritated, and thoroughly disgusted with him.

"Get off me already." And so was he. Placing a firm hand on Jeff's broad shoulder he nudged him back while simultaneously using his other hand to loosen the so called friend's grip on the vixen that had captured his affections.

"She told you to get off." Shisui's teeth grit together behind closed lips. "You didn't listen last time, but you will listen this time." There would be no debate, he would make that his mission, and the only mission he ever failed, technically, was his stopping the Coup with his ultimate genjutsu. There was no way he would fail this mission, against someone who didn't even have backup, much less the same physical capabilities he possessed.

Jeff gave another false smile backing up farther than Shisui's hand had forced him. "I was only playing." He teased. Shisui felt his eyes warm up for a split second.

"I'm not." He retorts.

"Well, anyway," Jeff begins holding a clear water bottle out to Lori, the contents were tinged with pink, almost like pink lemonade. "I brought one of your favorite drinks, water with flavoring in them. I do hope you'll drink it." Their eyes locked, fierce blue-green versus a wavering blue. Her hands drifted to the container accepting the gift. "I'll see you later then…" As he walked back to his chair, Shisui eyed the pink fluid inside. This gift couldn't just be a gift could it? The way he looked at her, talked to her, it was unsettling. What raised his suspicions more was when Jeff had been scouted walking from the area a distraught Lori had been, a few days prior. He wanted to snatch the bottle from his enchantress's hands and force Jeff to drink the possibly poisonous liquid himself. Yes, it took all his training of self control from his years as a ninja to prevent him from doing just that, but he would not let this slide.

"Lori," He began only to be cut off by the girl.

"Shisui, please," Her sorrowful eyes pained him. "He is just annoying sometimes, nothing to be worried over…" Shisui couldn't believe what he was hearing, days ago she was more open to them, telling them stories that seemed like she had actually been there, commiting the crimes, or at least watching them happen, and now she was shutting down again. She was pushing a grave matter to the side. His memory recalled the way she acted around Jeff, and he knew she was only acting like this because of him being so watchful of her, him being around her. If he could get her away from him, maybe she would be more open. The bell rang, and once again, Jeff was crowding Lori on her way out. Shisui definitely wouldn't let this guy get away with harassing her, not one bit. It didn't matter whether he could have her for himself or not, it wouldn't even be possible anyway, he would leave sooner or later.

All throughout his next class he was wondering what he could do to help her without seeming too clingy, he didn't want to come across any way similar to Jeff, invading her personal space or tailing her to her classes. But he couldn't ask Itachi to do that either, he could only ask him to help her in Art. He could use the transformation jutsu, but he would still feel guilty for stalking her, even if it was for her own safety. He could summon a crow to follow her, but they are only allowed outside the building. He could create shadow clones, but that is the same as stalking her himself. The bell rang and he ran outside to meet with Itachi, the man was beside Lori and glaring iritably at Jeff. "Jeff, I think it's about time you went to your next class, don't you think?" Jeff cheerfully smiled at him.

"I like being around Lori though, I don't mind being late. We have the same class anyhow." The words that dripped from his mouth was more than enough for the two Uchiha to get the hint. He had altered his schedule to match hers. Either it was a lucky role of the dice, or someone was pulling some major strings.

"Don't you know that if you don't give friends some space they will be pushed away?" Itachi stares at Jeff. "Unless, you don't care about Lori." The feeling they got from Jeff was one that they knew all too well. The shock of being seen through, the facade falling to pieces right before his very eyes. Jeff was good though, nothing showed on his face except the perfect mask, but that was all they needed. Itachi had trapped him.

"Your right," Jeff sighs. "I should give Lori more space, she means the world to me, after all." With that he nods to Lori and ventures off to their next class, Shisui noticing the apparent relief on the frail young women's features. Her shoulders were still tense, but more relaxed than before, the tired looking features on her face brightening only a little bit. Itachi's eyes trail the boy until he is no longer within his sight, turning he sees a nice, great opportunity.

Shisui's hand was on Lori's shoulder, his face not to far from hers in his fit of worry. He thought about going to push his friend into her, so that he would kiss her, the thought was indeed childish, but it was entertaining. It was irritating how Shisui still kept a distance from her, yet he tried to protect her from everything going on. If he could lock her in a room that would provide everything she could ever covet or need, Itachi was sure he would, as long as it didn't affect her badly. In that case, it probably wouldn't. But Lori was a free soul, she loved to roam the area around the house, in the woods more specifically. "He is enjoying playing this game." Itachi finally speaks. Shisui glares in the direction that Jeff had went.

"Then it's about time we played our own." A mischievous glint in his eyes was unmistakable, and yes he would seriously mess with Jeff. He was the master of illusions and teleportation, an Uchiha at that. There was no mind game he couldn't win, especially with Itachi at his side. "Are you with me Itachi?" The technically younger one's nod was firm, yes he had seen what Jeff's latest mind game was with Lori in their previous class, and it was time for the bully to have a taste of his own medicine.

"Whatever your thinking, don't." Lori's frail and tiny voice was surprising, even after the events that unfolded, she usually retained some confidence.

"How do you expect him to leave you alone if you can't stand up for yourself?" Itachi wasn't one for violence, but he had a feeling that Jeff had bestowed it upon Lori at one point or another, for her to be so timid and meek around him.

"I know, but…" Lori's lips quivered, her eyes stinging and on the verge of tears. This past few days had been nothing but stress upon stress. She didn't know how she had not caved in sooner.

"Hey, please don't cry!" Shisui didn't know what to do, he couldn't let Lori walk around school a nervous wreck and tearful. That would be one of the most embarrassing things to both him and her. "Come on, we can talk about this later, I promise we will work something out." She wiped her salty tears away, the guilt plaguing her once more, and the anger of her showing weakness consumed a portion of her soul. Finding the strength to go on, if only for everyone else, she gave a stern nod. She wouldn't worry about the future and if Jeri would hate her. No, she would try her damndest to live in the moment, she would try her best to live in the present. Not in the past. Not in the future. Now.

"Yeah, thank you."

A/N: Hey guys, I know this chapter wasn't exactly long, but someone important to me has been gone for two weeks and is finally back home. I have missed them so much and I am going to go see them and catch up, I will post the next update soon. Please review and thank you so much!