Making the chapters a little shorter than before

A bit of drama, I want Kyoko to be able to bite back, yknow?

~.~

Last time:

"Kyoko, Ino, you two are staying after class today."

"WHAT?!" Ino shouted, "WHY ME?!"

'Kakashi's gonna be disappointed in me,' I sighed.

"AND WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE WITH HER?!" Ino asked, pointing at me.

"Ino, go sit," Iruka Sensei told her.

I looked back down at my notebook. It was total silence in the class, I loved it. It usually got this quiet after Naruto would do something. Speaking of Naruto, the Uzumaki walked in.

"Sorry I'm late Iruka Sensei...did...did I miss something?"

~.~

Class finally started, but I wasn't paying attention.

'Ino caused too much attention...' I sighed, looking out the window.

My attention snapped back when I heard Iruka say something about a project.

"...this project will be done in partners." I heard Iruka said.

'...partners?,' I thought.

"I will assign your partners, when you hear who your partner is, go sit next to them and wait for further instructions," Iruka said, starting to call out the partners.

'As long as my partner doesn't slack off and make me do the work,' I thought.

"I will assign you your partners, when you hear who your partner will be, go sit next to them and wait for further instructions. Also, there's an odd number of students so one group will have three people," Iruka Sensei said, starting to call out the partners.

'Yeah...I'm an independent worker, plus I think no one would wanna be partners with me after what just happened' I thought to myself, 'Also, why don't you make the third person work by themselves? I'll be the third person if that's the case.'

I've yet to hear my name, more and more people started to get worried.

"I hope I'm not partners with Kyoko."

"Me too..."

"Oh god, what if I get partnered with her?"

"I'm scared..."

"I don't wanna be with her or Naruto."
"I wanna be partnered with Sasuke-kun."

"...me too"

I groaned, slightly embarrassed with myself.

"Ino, and Sakura"

"WHAT?!" Ino and Sakura yelled both at the same time.

'...okay I get that they're rivals, but weren't you two wishing, just a second ago, that you guys wouldn't be partnered up with me?' I thought.

These people, unbelievable. Iruka Sensei looked at his sheet again.

"Sorry, my mistake. Ino and Kiba"

"...w-wha...?" Ino looked like she was gonna die.

Everyone laughed

'...Kiba, Inuzuka Kiba, the one guy who's almost as annoying as Naruto...this is going to be interesting.'

"Sakura and Naruto"

"YES!" Naruto hollered.

"N-no..." Sakura groaned.

'Iruka Sensei, he's doing this on purpose, right?,' I thought, looking over at the distressed Haruno.

'Honestly, I thought the Uzumaki was gonna be partnered up with Sasuke. Iruka probably put him with the Haruno so he can't do anymore pranks, last time, he painted the Hokage mountains...idiot,' I thought.

"Sasuke and Shino"

...silence between the two guys. All you could hear was silence and some of the girls complaining that they weren't Sasuke's partner. Sasuke just got up and sat next to Shino.

'...right, Sasuke's the "Cold, dark, cool" person.' I thought.

I knew about his past, through Kakashi, I remember when he was more opened...until the Uchiha Massacre happened. It was only two years ago when his clan was brutally murdered by his brother, Itachi. I remembered that I got along with him, and his brother...sorta...I still didn't say anything but their names but they accepted me. Unfortunate for Sasuke...though, he was probably spared for a reason. I thought for a moment, '...he's with Aburame Shino...the other quiet guy, interesting.'

"Kyoko..."

The air was tense.

"...and Shikamaru."

I silently sighed, there were sighs of relief from many others in the classroom,

'Nara Shikamaru,' I thought.

It's not like I didn't like him, it's just that I have to work with someone, and this someone was apparently the most laziest person in the class. I continued to look straight as Iruka Sensei continued with the names. Shikamaru just walked over to me and sat in the seat right beside me.

'...tch, this is wonderful,' I thought sarcastically.

Shikamaru lazily looked at me.

'...Kyoko...haven't talked to her in a long time,' He thought.

Memory

"Kyoko, come down for a second," Hatake Kakashi called the girl from downstairs.

He looked over at Shikamaru.

"She's really shy, so bare with her for today, okay?" He told the boy.

A girl with dark blue hair and bright baby blue eyes walked downstairs and looked up to Kakashi with a slightly annoyed expression. Kyoko was about 7 years old. She noticed Shikamaru and immediately hid behind Kakashi.

'What's going on? Who is this?' She wondered.

"Kyoko, this is Nara Shikamaru, he lives nearby. His mom wanted you guys to meet and play with each other," Kakashi told her.

"Um...nice to meet you, Kyoko, you can call me Shikamaru," The boy said.

Kyoko looked up at Kakashi.

"Go on, it's fine," Kakashi told her gently pushed the girl towards Shikamaru.

"Why don't you bring her over to your place? I bet your mother would like to meet her," Kakashi said to the boy.

"Okay," Shikamaru said simply, taking the girl's hand and walking her to his house. Kyoko waved bye to Kakashi before letting Shikamaru drag her away. Kakashi was apparently busy today with a mission and couldn't look after Kyoko that day. The kids soon reached the Nara grounds.

"...so...what do you wanna do?" Shikamaru asked.

The girl shrugged.

"Do you know how to play shogi?" He asked.

Kyoko shook her head "No".

"How about Go?" Shikamaru asked.

She shook her head again.

'...she's not making things easy, mom's gonna kill me for not "entertaining" Kyoko,' Shikamaru thought. He laid down on the grass and looked up at the clouds.

"Well...I like looking at the clouds...we can do that or something," He said, hoping she would copy what he was doing.

She didn't. She started walking around, taking notice of the little things. She looked at ants, and how they worked. She stared at a flower, that had a bee pollinating it. She followed a butterfly, as it landed on a leaf. She observed the grass, as the wind made it dance. Shikamaru took notice of Kyoko's long hair, how no matter how strong the wind was, the bangs always stayed to cover her right eye, but the rest of her of long hair swayed with the wind.

It didn't take long for Kyoko to end up joining him on the grass.

There was silence between them.

'At least she's not as annoying as Ino,' Shikamaru thought.

~.~

The two kids ended up falling asleep, later were awoken by the Nara's mother.

"Shikamaru! Where is Kyoko!? Why didn't you bring her in so I could meet her?!"

"Mom, I'm trying to sleep," Shikamaru said as he turned over to his side, ending up face to face with Kyoko.

'I almost forgot about her,' He thought.

"Why are you making her sleep on the ground? Shikamaru, I swear, I thought I taught you better!" His mom started to nag.

'Here we go,' Shikamaru sighed.

"...we were watching the clouds," Kyoko finally spoke, "I guess we just ended up falling asleep."

"I see," His mom said, "You still should have brought her in first, Shikamaru!"

"She's shy, ma," Shikamaru told his mom, "She hardly spoke a word til now."

"Uh, I just wasn't ready to say anything..." Kyoko said, her voice getting quieter.

"I'm sorry sweetheart," Shikamaru's mom said, "Well, you can call me Yoshino, I'm Shikamaru's mom."

"N-Nice to meet you Yoshino – san," Kyoko stuttered.

"You're so cute! And so polite," Yoshino smiled, "If you need anything, don't hesitate to come ask."

Yoshino went back inside, leaving the two kids outside.

"...well, thanks for speaking up," Shikamaru said, "She didn't nag my ear off for once," He joked. Kyoko simply nodded. She took his hand and dragged him to the spot where he was sleeping before and sat down. Shikamaru understood and laid down to watch the clouds again. Kyoko laid beside him, leaving a comfortable gap in between. Shikamaru. There was a long silence between them until Shikamaru broke it.

"...why are you so quiet?" He asked.

"...I don't like to," She said, closing her eyes.

"I'm not gonna complain, it's nice to be around someone who isn't so chatty," Shikamaru said, "But you should talk more, you have a nice voice," he stated, with a pink blush forming on his cheeks.

She opened her eyes, and turned over to look at him. She closed her eyes again.

"...maybe," she said quietly, not sure if the young Nara heard her or not.

"Okay, everyone know who their partners are?" Iruka Sensei asked.

I turned to Shikamaru, he was asleep.

'...exactly how am I suppose to work with him?' I glanced at the sleeping Nara, just dozing off.

I faced towards Iruka Sensei, who was talking about the project.

"This project is about teamwork, the person that you're partnered up with may be someone you don't know, or don't really know. Your partner could even be your rival, someone you don't get along with, someone you don't know, or maybe your best friend. But this project will let us see if you could work together with anyone. I made sure I didn't partner you guys with your best or close friends," Iruka said.

"Or someone who might try and kill you," Someone commented.

"Um continuing on, for a school week, five days, you and your partner will be cuffed together, to see how you guys will live attached with another person."

'...haha very funny, now whats the real project?' I looked at Iruka Sensei, hoping he would just say "Just kidding" or something.

Everyone looked at our Sensei as if someone just shot him through the head.

"...24 hours a day?" Sakura asked nervously.

"How are we suppose to go to the bathroom?!" Someone asked

"Or changed?!" Another asked.

Questions were being thrown at Iruka Sensei, who was waiting impatiently for everyone to settle down. Which wasn't happening.

"I can't be stuck to Naruto for a week!" Sakura cried out.

"Speak for yourself! I have to be cuffed to dog breath!" Ino complained, motioning to Kiba.

'...everyone shut up so we can get answers...' I thought, waiting for everyone to shut up.

Everyone kept yelling and complaining, I could see Iruka Sensei getting impatient and tired with everyone. I was impressed that Shikamaru is able to sleep through all of this.

"Settle down!" Iruka shouted, "You guys aren't stuck with each other 24 hours a day, you guys are stuck with each other 20 hours a day. The cuffs will let you go at 6 pm to do whatever you guys have to do for the four hours. Then the chakra will pull you guys back to the hand cuffs. I suggest you guys be near the cuffs near the end of the last hour. This will continue like this for the five days, this will help you learn how to work together and get to know each other. Also, I want you guys to train with each other, not spar, the chain isn't long enough for you guys to fight each other, you can try hand to hand combat, taijutsu. Help each other with stuff like chakra control and target practice. Learn about each other, their strengths, their weaknesses, their hobbies, just get to know each other, it makes this project easier." He said as he started handcuffing each pair of students.

I looked back at Shikamaru, surprisingly, he was awake.

'...when did he...' I looked at him, he was just waiting for Iruka Sensei to come over here.

'...I'm gonna have to explain everything aren't I?' I sighed.

I noticed Shikamaru turn to look at me, then turned away. He seemed like he wanted to ask something.

'...well? Just staring at me isn't gonna get you answers,' I thought to myself.

Iruka Sensei came to my and Shikamaru and cuffed us together. My right hand was attached to his left.

'...he's right handed too, right?'

If he was left handed, writing notes is gonna become difficult, no, everything would become harder to do. The chain that attached us together was about 15 inches long, at least our hands weren't actually attached with each other, the chain gave us some space.

Iruka Sensei started talking about chakra control, or something, something he's taught us before but decides to talk more about again. It wasn't anything too important to write notes about, I had enough information on the subject in my note book, but listens in to the lesson just in case there was something important. I looked over to see what Shikamaru is doing. He was sleeping.

'...how is he gonna become a ninja? Being this lazy,' I wondered, and turned to pay half attention to the lesson.

It wasn't even lunch yet, and I was getting bored of the lesson. But what bothered me was the fact that the kid beside me was still asleep and was not getting in trouble, and was somehow passing this class. It was driving me nuts. I looked at the sleeping Nara.

'Still sleeping anytime and anywhere, huh?' I continued to look at him, taking in his features.

His face had his signature lazy/bored look, he was sorta cute.

'...it's cute that he thinks that he can sleep and still be able to know this shit,' I thought to myself as I continues to analyze my partner.

His black hair was kept in a ponytail, which for some reason spiked up, defying the laws of physics, disobeying gravity.

'I mean, come on, how the hell does it stay straight up? Pineapple head,' I glanced at his hair again,'I wonder if it's soft...'

I quickly turned to face Sensei again, pushing away the random urges to touch the Nara's hair.

'Why do I even want to?,' I took one more glance, 'He always has his hair up...I wonder what it looks like down...'

I shook my head and turn my full attention to Sensei, again, only to see that the lesson was over and it was time for lunch.

~.~

I put my things away with my left hand, and turn to the boy sleeping.

'...I wanna eat...get up...' I thought as I glanced at him.

I decide to sit down, not wanting to bother the sleeping boy. I turn to the window, my right hand holding up my head, only to have my right hand tugged by the boy after a few minutes.

"Come on, I wanna go eat," Shikamaru says, with a hint of annoyance.

I looked at him, annoyed.

'Yeah, I did too, but I was nice enough to not bother you. Appreciate that,' I said in annoyance as I grabbed my bag and followed Shikamaru out the class.

"So, you do talk," He joked.

I gave him a glare, "Funny."

He dragged me outside as I dug through my bag for my bento.

'She didn't even try to wake me up,' Shikamaru thought, sighing, 'And now she's grumpy. Girls are so troublesome.'

I pulled my bento out, continuing to follow the Nara so I could eat somewhere. I took in the feeling of the sun, covering me like warm blanket. I squinted at the bright light. I looked up at the Nara.

He side glanced me.

"...been a while since we've hung out," He said.

I simply nodded.

"I think we were...7?" He continued.

"Why are you bringing that up?" I asked.

"Well, uh..." Shikamaru started, "Troublesome, just trying to make conversation."

"..." I didn't know what to say, I just looked down.

Shikamaru and I walked to a bench under a tree. I immediately sat down to eat. Shikamaru sat against the tree. I opened my bento and began to eat. I looked at Shikamaru. He wasn't eating. Just, laying there.

"...why aren't we sitting with your friends?" I asked.

"Why are you asking?" He asked, almost mocking the same tone I had earlier.

"Nevermind," I mumbled as I ate some rice.

He sighed, "I didn't wanna sit with my friends today cause I know you wouldn't want to," He explained, "I usually hang out with Choji, sometimes Ino, but I can't stand Ino sometimes."

I made a hum sound, indicating that I was listening.

There was a silence between us.

I had finished half my bento. Knowing that the Nara had forgotten, I handed him my lunch.

He gave me a questioning look.

"You didn't bring lunch," I told him.

"So you're sharing yours?" He asked, "Wow, cold hearted Kyoko isn't so cold hearted after all."
"Just take it before I change my mind," I told him.

"You didn't have to," He told me, but took it anyways.

I moved to sit beside him, still leaving space between us.

"Did you make this?" He asked.

I nodded.

"Top of the class, and knows how to cook?" He said, almost in surprise, "Impressive."

'Does he want something? He can't fish anything out from me with compliments,' I thought.

We soon heard the bell to come back in.

Shikamaru finished eating and handed back my box. I put it away and got up. But he stayed in place.

"Get up," I told him.

"I'm tired, let's skip," He told me.

"No," I disagreed, "Get up."

"You're top of the class, what are you worried about?" He asked.

I got annoyed, "Get the hell up!"

"You could ask nicely," Shikamaru told me, getting up.

"If you didn't act like a brat, I-"

He patted my head while getting up, catching me off guard.

"I'm sorry, I'm just teasing you a little," He said, "Come on, lets go to class."

I followed him, kind of in a weird daze.

I touched my head, where he patted me.

'...what just happened?'

~.~

Cute? Maybe?

I'll continue to rewrite chapters during my spare time.

I personally like giving Kyoko more personality.

I think her personality was just a mix of a bunch in the beginning.

She's scarred by her past, she doesn't trust anyone except Kakashi, Akumu, and the Hokage.

Hokage let her live in the village, Kakashi gave her a home and, even though it's small, a family. And Akumu's a cat.

Anyways, signing off,

BlueBirb