Hello~~

I hope everyone is doing well :)

My uploads will be a little slower due to upcoming tests and finals

But here's another chapter!

~.~

Last time:

'Back there...that was weird...I acted weird. Not just me, Sasuke too,' I thought, 'We acted like we did when we were kids...excluding my talking and adding his brother in.'

I frowned at the thought of the older Uchiha.

'...Itachi...' I thought, '...Ita-kun...why did you do that?'

I sighed at my unanswered question. I thought back at Sasuke.

'Does Sasu-kun actually consider me as a friend?' I wondered, 'I don't think he'd ever admit something like that.'

'It's getting dark, shouldn't you go home? Kakashi's probably waiting for you,' Fuzen told me.

I lifted an eyebrow.

'Pft, he never waits for me. I always train late, and when I come home, every single time, he's not there; either he's not home or he's in his room,' I said.

Fuzen laughed.

'You're so focused on training that you didn't notice him watching you?' I waited for Fuzen to go on, 'He hides in the trees, watching you train for all those years, making sure nothing happens to you.'

I thought for a moment.

'That's kinda creepy, but in a sweet way...kinda. Wait, how do you know?' I questioned.

'I paid attention to things that were around you,' Fuzen explained.

'If Kakashi was an enemy sent to kill or kidnap me, I would've been dead already,' I realized.

'Why? You think your so important that people will actually try to kill you?' Fuzen joked.

'Whatever, I'm gonna head back then,' I sighed, getting up.

'Careful, someone might try to kill you on the way back,' Fuzen laughed.

'Uh-huh,' I said, jogging back to my home.

"I'm back," I said, walking back into the house.

"Training in your 'Secret' training spot, I see," Kakashi said, looking up from his book.

I froze.

'...so Fuzen wasn't lying..' I thought.

"Uh...yeah...how do you know about it?" I asked, even thought I already knew the answer.

"You think I would let a kid in the forest to train by themselves, alone, late at night?" Kakashi asked.

"...yeah..?" I said nervously.

Kakashi laughed and ruffled my hair.

"Anyways, go take a shower, your friends came looking for you before, they said something about BBQ," Kakashi said, giving me a smile.

I gave a slightly irritated look.

'...they still try to make me come,' I thought, 'Wait...did he say "Friends"? Plural?' .

"Who exactly came here?" I asked, trying not to sound serious.

"Uh just the Nara, he said that everyone's going for BBQ later and want you to come, or something like that," Kakashi told me.

"Oh, I see," I sighed, "But I'm pretty tired from training, I rather sleep than go anywhere now," I turned to go up stairs but was held back by Kakashi.

"That's not nice, making your friends wait for you," Kakashi told me.

"I don't wanna go," I groaned, "I know exactly how everything's gonna go down."

Kakashi crossed his arms, waiting for me to go on.

"I don't wanna explain," I told him.

Kakashi rolled his eyes.

"Just go, you'll have fun," Kakashi said, nudging me up the stairs before walking away.

"Yeah, fun," I muttered before walking into my room.

~.~

I took a quick shower and changed into white shorts and a black t-shirt, along with my holster to carry my throwing weapons. It was pretty much summer, the nights were becoming warmer and warmer. I went downstairs to feed Akumu and put on my shoes.

"Oh, so you're actually going?" Kakashi asked me.

"Might as well. If I don't, Ino might attack me," I sighed.

Kakashi chuckled and ruffled my hair. I frowned at my messy hair.

"I'm off," I said, leaving to the BBQ place.

"Have fun," Kakashi told me, closing the door.

"Sure," I muttered, jumping on the roofs to get there faster.

~.~

When I got there, I saw what I pictured in my head earlier. Ino and Sakura fighting over the Uchiha, who wasn't even there. Shikamaru sitting with Choji, along with Kiba. They were all crowded at a table. It wasn't as loud as I expected thought...wait..Naruto wasn't here.

'Weird...', I thought.

Of all the people, Ino had to notice me first.

"KYOKO! KYOKO-CHAN! OVER HERE!," Ino exclaimed, waving her hands around like a mad person.

I face-palmed and walked towards them.
"Hey, so this is your casual outfit?" Kiba said, directing towards my clothes.

"Yes, good job for pointing out the obvious, gold star for you," I said with a sarcastic tone, making the others laugh.

"Sit," Shikamaru said, moving over for me to sit.

I sat beside him.

"Where's the Uzumaki?" I asked, straight to the point.

"Dunno, we couldn't find him after you left," Kiba said while stuffing his face.

"It's pretty weird, if there's food, Naruto should be there," Sakura said, a little concerned.

"He's probably fine, knowing him, he's probably doing another prank or something," Kiba joked.

"Probably," Choji pipped up, mouth full of food.

I shrugged, and started playing with my headband around my neck.

"It's called a forehead protector for a reason, why is it around your neck?" Sakura asked.

"Well yours isn't on your forehead, you're using it like a headband," I countered.

'It doesn't matter where it goes, as long as you can see it. Why is it such a concern?' I thought.

"You can put it anywhere, but you, Kyoko, should definitely put it around your forehead. You shouldn't hide your face behind your bangs," Ino said, reaching for my bangs.

I let her push my bangs out of my face and around my ear. From spending a week with them, I learned to just let Ino do what she wants, as long as it's not out of my comfort zone.

"It's getting long, I'll get it cut when I can," I said, "But your bangs are about to cover your eye as well."

"Well, here," Ino said, taking something out of her pocket.

She had a few bobby pins and pinned my bangs back.

"There, now we can see you cute face at 100 percent," Ino smiled.

"Um, Kyoko-chan, have some food, you must be hungry after training," She gave a small smile.

"Oh, I'm really not that hungry," I told her.

Sakura gave me a frown.

"Well...do you want water, or something?" She asked.

"Sure," I said.

She smiled. Sakura ordered a glass of ice water for me.

'She's like a mother, pursing their child to eat more,' I sighed, taking the glass into my hands, taking small sips.

The group continued to take with one another while I just drank my water.

"Are you sure you aren't hungry?" Shikamaru asked.

"Not really," I told him.

"Eat a little at least, before Ino or Sakura make you," Shikamaru told me.

The image of Sakura and Ino force feeding me sent shivers down my spine.

"Fine, fine," I said, picking up a pair of chopsticks.

Sakura immediately noticed and gave me a plate.

"Eat your fill!" She smiled.

"Haha, thanks," I said, starting to cook some meat.

They continued to talk while I ate some food.

"You're really quiet tonight," Ino told me.

"I'm always quiet," I told her.

"That's true," She laughed awkwardly, "Well, I've always wondered something."

"Mhm?" I hummed.

"So, I know you said that you're not interested in anyone," She started, "But have you ever thought anyone was cute?"

The group looked at me with interest.

"Yeah," I said simply, before popping a pork belly piece in my mouth.

"...EHHHH?" The girls shouted.

"Who?" Sakura asked.

"Isn't it obvious?" I asked, "Akamaru."

"..."

"Of course," Shikamaru said as Kiba laughed.

"She's not wrong," Kiba said, "Akamaru is pretty cute."

"You know what we mean," Ino sighed, "A human, in our class, who you think is good looking."

"Uh..." I thought for a moment, "I mean, you work hard to look pretty, Ino."

"O-Oh?" Ino blushed.

"You too, Sakura," I said, making Sakura's face match her hair.

"But I think you guys should focus on your skills more than your appearance," I told them.

"You mean..." Ino sighed, "I mean, did you think anyone was good looking or cute to the point where you would consider dating them?"

"I don't think so," I told her.

"Maybe she doesn't know what it's like to be falling for anyone," Sakura thought out loud, "Has anyone ever made you blush?"

"Blush?" I said out loud, thinking for a moment, "Oh!"

The group looked at me.

"Nara has," I said.

"...WHAT?" the group shouted.

I gave them all a weird look.
"What?" I asked.

I noticed Shikamaru's face starting to blush.

"Why would you blush from the laziest ninja in the entire Leaf Village?" Ino asked.

"During the project, he always moved in his sleep and I'd wake up with him face to face with me," I said, "That would make anyone blush."

They all sighed.

"That wasn't really what I meant," Sakura told me, "Has anyone made your heat beat faster?"

"...when me and an opponent are sparing?" I questioned.

"Well, we know you wouldn't date someone as lazy as him," Ino said, "You being that active and motivated."

"That's for sure," Sakura said, "...unless..."

Ino gave Sakura a look.

"You know that saying, "opposites attract"," Sakura pointed out.

"Right!" Ino said in realization.

"I wouldn't date him," I told them.

"You don't know that," Ino told me, "Can you feed him without blushing?"

"No, no, the other way around," Sakura said, "Shikamaru, can you feed her?"

"Guys, I think you're looking too into this," Shikamaru sighed.

"I wouldn't date anyone right now anyways," I told them.

"Can you just do it," Ino pleaded.

"Let's just do it so they can shut up," I sighed, turning towards Shikamaru, "Just feed me one thing, Nara."

"What a drag," Shikamaru said, picking up a piece of beef to feed me.

I waited for him, but he hesitated.

"Why are you giving me such an intense stare?" He asked me.

"Am I suppose to close my eyes?" I asked.

"I dunno," He told me.

"Yeah! Close your eyes," Ino told me.

"Tell her to say 'ah' when you feed her," Sakura told Shikamaru.

"You guys are way too into this," Kiba told the two.

Choji was just happily eating away.

"Alright, let's get this over with," I said, closing my eyes.

"Alright, open your mouth," Shikamaru told me.

"No! Tell her to say 'ah'!" Sakura scolded.

"What kind of fantasy are you guys making in your heads?" Shikamaru asked.

"Just do it so we can get over this," I told him, still having my eyes closed.

"Fine, fine," He sighed, "Say ah."

I parted my mouth slightly to let him feed me.

Once it was done, it was done.

I faced the girls while chewing on the food Shikamaru fed me.
"Happy?" I asked.

"Nothing," Sakura pouted.

"...think she likes Kiba?" Ino asked.

"Guys, I'm not a food disposal," I told them, "I'm full."

"Fine, fine," Ino said.

"Oh! We should go soon," Sakura said, pulling her wallet out to pay.

Others started pulling their wallets out.

I looked at how much everyone was paying and put the same amount down.

"Wait, go where?" I asked.

"We're about to go to karaoke soon, I wouldn't want you to leave now," Ino smirked.

"Oh," I said simply.

I immediately got out of my seat and tried to run off, but someone grabbed onto my arm before I could get away.

"If I have to suffer through this, you do too," Shikamaru told me.

The whole group got up, dragging me along with them.

~.~

I refused to sing with them, I just ordered iced tea and watched them sing. Ino, who was outgoing, just went for it. Sakura was a little shy, but still sang her heart out. Kiba didn't care about what anyone thought, as long as he had a good time. He even got Choji and Shikamaru into it.

"Come on, Kyoko-chan~" Ino told me, handing me the mic.

"Uh, I can't sing," I told her, pushing the mic back.

"Neither can Kiba, but he's having fun," Sakura pointed out.

"Karaoke isn't about sounding good," Kiba told me, "It's about sounding bad together!"

"Guys, don't pressure her," Shikamaru said, making them stop crowding around me, "Troublesome. She'll sing if and when she wants to."

He sat next to me and I continued to sip on my iced tea as others started to sing.

"Thanks, Nara," I sighed.

"This a little much for you?" Shikamaru asked.

"Yeah," I admitted.

"Say," Shikamaru started, "Why do you keep calling me by my surname? You call everyone else by their first name."

"Cause they asked me to," I told him, "You never asked me to call you by your first name, so I thought you just wanted me to call you Nara."

He chuckled, "It's fine, you can call me Shikamaru."

"Okay, Shikamaru," I said with a small smile.

Shikamaru covered part of his face, looking away from me for a moment.

"It's not a big deal to call us by our first names," He said, picking up a glass of water, "We're friends."

"I-"

"Kyoko! Come sing this with me!" Ino told me, pulling me from Shikamaru.

"Ino I told you, no."

"Oi, Shikamaru! Let's do this song," Kiba said.

"Ask Choji, I'm tired," Shikamaru told him.

"I'm eating," Choji told him.

"Ino! I said no!" I told Ino.

"Kyoko, just one!" Sakura pleaded.

I sighed, "Look, if I just play with the tambourine, will that suffice?"

~.~

By the end of it, they didn't hear me sing.

"We'll get you next time," Ino told me.

"Aha, please don't," I sighed.

"I'm so tired!" Sakura said with a yawn.

"See ya guys later!" Kiba waved.

"Bye!" Choji waved.

We all went our separate ways, except me and Shikamaru.

"You don't have to walk me home," I told him with a yawn.

"We live the same way," Shikamaru told me, "Plus, you look like you might fall asleep at any moment. Ino must've took a lot outta you."

"You can say that again," I stretched.

He wasn't wrong, I was extremely tired from training earlier. Not to mention from learning the new jutsu.

"You aren't even walking straight," He almost laughed.

"You know, I might just be that tired," I sighed, rubbing my eyes.

I almost toppled over as I was walking.

"What a drag, do you need me to carry you?" Shikamaru asked.

"No, I'm just tired," I told him, "Face me in the direction of home and I'll find my way."

"I told you, I'm walking you home cause its in the direction of my home," He told me.

"It's fine, you can go straight home," I told him, "You don't have to walk with me."

Shikamaru sighed.

'She's so stubborn,' He thought.

He quickly picked me up and draped me over his shoulder.

"H-hey!" I said, surprised, "Put me down!" I demanded.

"You look like you'll topple over at any moment," Shikamaru told me.

"You're over reacting," I said with a yawn, "Put me down, this is embarrassing."

"I'll carry you on my back and you can sleep that way," Shikamaru suggested.

At this point, the day drained all the energy out of me.

"..fine, only cause you were super persistent about it."

~.~

Kyoko fell asleep almost immediately when Shikamaru started carrying her on his back.

"Man, you're such a drag," Shikamaru sighed, "Such a stubborn girl."

Shikamaru made it to Kyoko's house. He went up to the door and knocked it, the door opened and he was faced to face with the silvered-haired Jounin.

"She fell asleep so I carried her here," Shikamaru explained.

"I see," Kakashi said, "I'll take her off your hands," He said, picking Kyoko up, "Thanks for bringing her home," He thanked, giving him a one eyed smile.

"No problem," Shikamaru lazily said, bringing his hands to the back of his neck.

"Hope she isn't giving you too much trouble," Kakashi told him.

"She seemed like she was having fun," Shikamaru told him, "She's troublesome, but she's learning to have fun."

"I see," Kakashi said, "Have a goodnight."

Shikamaru simply nodded,

The Nara left the Hatake's home and went to the direction of his own home.

~.~

Kakashi carried Kyoko upstairs into her room. He laid her on her bed, he smiled at her sleepy face. Akumu entered the room and curled up at the foot of the bed. Kakashi pulled the covers over her and walked out of her room, closing the door.

~.~

Hope you guys enjoyed~

Tell me what you think! I love to read the reviews

Signing off,

Bluebirb