Crimson Love
I noticed something... You people totally aren't asking about the Sakkon-Shizuka thing! What the hell, people? Oh well. H-R says I'm being weird because Ukon is in this more then Sakkon... What can I say to that? Hmm... I know: Sakkon doesn't have a crush, and Ukon does! Exactly what the crush is is pretty obvious, but for now, pretend you can't tell... He's already pissed at me for this chap... you'll see soon.
Ok I am totally not to blame for the name of this chapter... H-R's friend came over and she had Sun Chips, and now I have a new favorite snack. (Insert mocking from H-R and all the contents of the kitchen) -.-' Shut up. All of you shut up.
I'll find a way to make it relevant somehow.
Like always, review answers at that bottom, be sure to read the A/N, since their have some info on the school system!
Chapter Four: Sun Chips and Bento Boxes
Once again, Neji was having a bad day. The kind of bad day he wished upon Gai-sensei last year, but the fates had been against Neji, for some reason, and made it happen to him, instead. Only, it happened this year, instead.
First, for a reason unknown to him, he woke up at one a.m. He found this especially odd, since he had been dead-tired when he got home the day before. He tried for many hours to go back to sleep (actually, he only tired for half an hour, but Neji is very impatient) but with no such luck. When he finally realized he was not going to reassume his dream (which had included himself, Sakura, Shizuka and, for some reason, a spork), he got out of bed, went over to his book case, and read every book he owned.
Neji owned three books. Green Eggs And Ham (Japanese translation), How To Retain Sanity, and How To Tutor Insane Psychopaths; For Dummies, which he had purchased the day before.
Needless to say, that didn't take up that much of his time.
But he did learn a lot about tutoring.
Throwing Green Eggs And Ham over his shoulder, he went back over to his bed, put on his head phones, and listened to every CD he owned.
Neji owned exactly five CDs; the Disturbed collection (Prayer and The Sickness), Papa Roach's Getting Away With Murder, Sevendust's Animosity, and a burned CD full of 19 of his favorite songs whose names he forgot long ago, but they were all very loud and very death-metal-ish, and helped to calm him (sounds weird, but it works for me, too).
At 3 a.m., Neji got on his computer. Hiashi had gotten him his own computer last year, since Neji had gotten straight A's (NERD!), and since then, Neji had gotten a chat-room-fetish. Signing onto his favorite chat room, he waited for the page to open while going downstairs and getting himself something to eat.
Neji had a sudden rush of happiness when he realized that he was the only one awake. This was no surprise, of course, but it only just clicked with him that he could finally eat what he wanted, after living off of carefully planned and prepared food for the past year and four days (yes, he counted). Neji was most desperate for some of his own "home cooking."
Getting two slabs of bread, he set them out on the counter and went to the fridge. After rummaging around, he got out three different kinds of lunch meat, the mustard, the mayonnaise, a jar of pickles, an onion, some gravy, mashed potatoes, some jalapeno peppers, cheese curls (why were they in the fridge?), a few breakfast sausages, a carton of Chinese take-out, some rice that came with said take-out, and some orange juice. Putting all this on the counter, he put a little bit of everything onto the pieces of bread (using the cold gravy as glue), then mashed the two pieces of bread together and stuck them together with a pair of chopsticks like a deli sandwich (yeah... that's how big this sandwich was)(H-R: ...I don't care if it's in sandwich mode, that's my Unaia combination. DAMN IT!!! MY SISTER IS A THIEF!!! SNG: Dude, how many times have you used my ideas or quotes? Let's be perfectly honest.), poured himself a glass of orange juice (NO, the orange juice didn't go on the sandwich!), got a big bag of sun chips (I told you I'd make it relevant!) then took the whole lot upstairs and sat down at his computer.
By now, he was logged onto the chat room, and found only one other person online, whose screen name was SnAk3-EyE1989.
(The next bit will all be in chat-format. SNG chats a lot, so she knows how to do it.)
SnAk3-EyE1989: Hello.
FateK!ller: Hi. Who are you?
SnAk3-EyE1989 point to name
FateK!ller: Well, duh.
FateK!ller: I haven't seen you around here before so I was asking.
SnAk3-EyE1989: O. I c.
SnAk3-EyE1898: I cant tell u n e thing tho, cuz u mite b sum weird dude from god know where.
FateK!ller: Your grammar and spelling sucks.
SnAk3-EyE1989: Shut up! I no!
FateK!ller: Did you even go to first grade?
SnAk3-EyE1989: Yeah!
FateK!ller: Then why can't you spell?
SnAk3-EyE1989: becuz my tutor sucks!
FateK!ller: Who's your tutor? He really must suck.
SnAk3-EyE1989: sum lozer who thinks hes al that cuz hes on the soccer team.
FateK!ller: Hey! Soccer is cool!
SnAk3-EyE1989: no its not! it sucks so bad!
FateK!ller: It does not! Have you ever even played?!
SnAk3-EyE1989 kicks u in the shins
FateK!ller: That answers nothing!
SnAk3-EyE1989: yah but it makes me feel better
FateK!ller: Whatever.
SnAk3-EyE1989: y r u awake?
(Neji popped a Sun Chip is his mouth and brushed his fingers off on his shirt (ew) before typing his answer.)
FateK!ller: Because I'm not asleep.
FateK!ller: Duh.
SnAk3-EyE1989: no no no! shut up! I mean, wat r u doin at 3 am
FateK!ller: I woke up two hours ago
FateK!ller: And I couldn't go back to sleep
FateK!ller: What are you doing up?
SnAk3-EyE1989: I went to sleep when I got hom frm school
FateK!ller: It's not healthy to be up this late and then go to school.
FateK!ller: Your grades will go down because you're tired all the time.
SnAk3-EyE1989: dude Im already failin
SnAk3-EyE1989: it doesnt matter if im dead awake or half asleep
SnAk3-EyE1989: but tday I was WIDE AWAKE after gym
FateK!ller: Lol. Why?
SnAk3-EyE1989: b cuz my STUPID F-IN 'tutor' hit me in the head wit a volleyball!
FateK!ller: .....
FateK!ller: What?
(Neji got a little freaked out. Yeah, this was a chat room and everything, but, seriously. That was sounding way too familiar!)
SnAk3-EyE1989: n he didnt even apologize!
SnAk3-EyE1989: but he has been dealt with
SnAk3-EyE1989 cackles
FateK!ller: O.o
FateK!ller: Um... I'm sure he meant to... eventually...
SnAk3-EyE1989: uhhuh whatever
SnAk3-EyE1989: o shit my brothers comin I g2g c u l8er
FateK!ller: Ok, bye
SnAk3-EyE1989 has left the conversation.
(End of chat-room format)
Neji sat back, frowning. Maybe that was why Shizuka didn't have good grades; she probably stayed up all night like the snake eye kid and then, the next morning, her brain was totally fried and unable to retain information. He highly doubted the two people were connected, but it was something to think about.
(Next morning, before school)
"Hi Neji, hi Hinata!" Sakura called, waving from the window of the limo that was waiting for the two cousins outside the Hyuuga estate.
Hinata gave a small smile, waving shyly. Neji just grunted, hands in his pockets, going over to the car. When they were both in the car again, and on the road to school, Neji asked Shizuka casually, "How late did you stay up last night?"
She raised an eyebrow at him, then looked at the roof of the car, deep in thought. "Till about..." She thought again. "Actually, I went to sleep an hour or so after getting home, so I woke up again around 2 and stayed up all night." She raised the eyebrow again. "Why?"
He shrugged. "No reason. I just thought that maybe the reason your grades are so bad is because you're always tired."
A temper vein appeared on Shizuka's forehead. "Are you calling me stupid?!"
It was Neji's turn to raise an eyebrow. "Is that all you gathered?"
Before Shizuka could shout some more, however, Sakura grinned and asked, "How late did you stay up last night, Neji?"
He tossed her a look. "For your information, I dropped dead as soon as I got back from practice at four thirty, so I had a reason for staying up at unholy hours."
Sakura grinned. "Uh-huh, yeah, sure."
(Geometry/Homeroom)
Sakura cut Ino off before the blond could even say anything. "I'm not telling you anything about Shizuka, if you're so curious, get to know her yourself."
Ino gave her a weird look. "I wasn't going to ask about Shizuka."
Sakura raised an eyebrow. "Eh?"
"I was going to say that Sasuke-kun isn't here today." Ino pointed to where the moody Uchiha normally sat in the back corner all by himself.
"Huh?" Sakura looked at the empty desk. Sasuke hardly ever missed school; he was an above-B student, thus entitling him to a nearly perfect attendance record that had lasted him all through Kindergarten. It wasn't like him to miss a day. "He's probably still asleep." Sakura shrugged it off. She wasn't that worried.
However, saying that Ino was just the slightest bit worried was a rather large understatement. She was a nervous wreck, pulling at her hair, sweating buckets, and banging her head on the desk.
Sakura gave Ino sideways glances throughout the class, which consisted of Gai-sensei shouting all about lines and points. So these are Sasuke-kun-withdrawal symptoms.. Sakura had never experienced said symptoms; she had Sasuke in four of her classes, so she saw him enough through the day, and always called him after school, but Ino only had him in homeroom and Language Arts. Poor girl. This must be the beginning of the longest day without Sasuke-kun that Ino had ever experienced.
(Biology)
Sakura turned when Shizuka, Kimimaro and Sakkon came in the room with one minute to spare; just as she suspected, Neji was in the hallway when they left the door, but he quickly ran away when he saw Sakura smirking at him. She laughed a little, then went to get her Biology notebook.
"...Eh?" She rummaged through her book bag; the notebook wasn't in there. "I could've sworn..." She took out all the contents, frowning. It still wasn't there.
"What?" Shizuka sat down next to her.
"My notebook isn't in here," Sakura answered, looking through all her notebooks in turn, in case she missed one.
"So? You have enough as it is." Shizuka eyed the notebooks on the desk warily through her sunglasses.
"I know, but my homework was in it." Sakura groaned, raising her hand. "Sensei, I left my notebook in my locker, can I go get it?"
"Sure, Hanuro, take the pass." Kurenai pointed to a clipboard leaned against the blackboard. (Has anyone besides me noticed that, while all the chalkboards are called "black boards" they are all green? Hmm...)
"Thanks, sensei." Sakura got the pass and hurried out in time to hear Shizuka cry, "We had homework?!"
Sakura went downstairs to her locker, entered the combination, and rummaged through (Maybe it's only Shizuka's locker that's crappy) looking for the notebook in question. She jumped back when a sealed envelope dropped at her feet. "Huh?" She picked it up. There was something written on the envelope.
Sakura
She shrugged, running her finger under the sealed edge and opened it. Inside was a piece of paper with a message on it, and a pink sakura bud that matched the color of her hair almost exactly. Blushing slightly, she took out the note.
Thanks for being so nice to me.
Sakura blushed furiously. Someone gave me a flower... She took the bud out of the envelope and starred at it for a few minutes. Grabbing her notebook, she closed her locker and skipped away, notebook in one hand, flower and note in the other.
"Sakura."
She screeched to a halt, whirling around. Ino smirked at her, holding a pass for another class. "Ino."
The smirk dropped. "Who's that from?" Ino pointed to the flower.
It was Sakura's turn to smirk. "Wouldn't you like to know, Ino-pig?"
"...Duh." Ino glared. "Who gave it to you?"
"An upperclassman." Sakura waited for these words to take their effect, even though she wasn't sure if they were true.
Ino's jaw dropped. "What?! No way! What upperclassman would give you a flower?! I don't believe you!"
Sakura shrugged, smirking. "You can ask him yourself, if you want. He's in our gym class." Then, leaving Ino with her mouth hanging open, Sakura went back to Kurenai's class, wisely pocketing the flower. After turning around a corner, she stopped dead. Oh crap! What am I gonna do?! She groaned, pulling at her hair. How am I gonna find an upperclassman in my gym class who will agree to this?! I know Ino-pig is gonna ask someone, but no one will say yes! Oh I hate myself..
"What's that?" Shizuka said loudly when Sakura entered the room again, pointing to her person.
Sakura froze. "What's what?"
"That..." Shizuka suddenly grinned, showing all her teeth. "Oh..."
Sakura blanched, dropped the pass on Kurenai's desk and going over to her seat. "Do you know who put it in my locker?" she whispered to Shizuka, suddenly desperate. "I have to fund out before gym class so Ino can ask them and they can say yes!"
"...What?" Shizuka looked mortally confused.
Sakura rolled her eyes. "Look, you know every upperclassman in our gym class, right?"
"...Yeah? And?"
"Can you please make one of them tell Ino they gave me a flower?" Sakura begged.
"...Um, ok?" Shizuka raised an eyebrow at her.
"Thank you!" Sakura gave her a huge hug, then opened her notebook and took her homework out.
Shizuka just shrugged and went to sleep.
Again.
(After class)
"So which senior gave me the flower?" Sakura asked once they were in the hall.
"A senior gave Sakura a flower?" Neji asked, appearing at Kimimaro's elbow. "Dang, Sakura."
"No! I don't know!" Sakura groaned.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure it's someone..." Shizuka thought for a moment. Then, she turned before Sakkon could disappear around the corner in his quest for Calc. "OI! SAKKON!"
"Yeah?" He turned, raising an eyebrow.
"You gave Sakura a flower, ok?" Shizuka waved a hand carelessly. "Ok, now that that's–"
"What the hell?" Sakkon's jaw dropped. "No, I didn't!"
"Well, you did now."
"No, I didn't! You're not pulling me into one of your stupid schemes again, Shizuka-sama. I'm putting my foot down and walking away!" And walk away he did.
"...Ok, we need another senior." Shizuka scratched her head.
"A cute senior," Sakura protested.
"What's wrong with Sakkon?" Shizuka raised an eyebrow again. "You're in no mood to be picky, unless you want Jiroubou or Kidoumaru."
"Er..." Sakura thought for a minute while they went down the hall.
"And, can we hurry this up?" Shizuka pushed them down the hall.
"Why?" Kimimaro raised an eyebrow. "It's not like you're ever on time, anyway."
"Yeah, well, this hallway is not really agreein' with me, ok?" She glanced around before pushing them even harder.
"So, you're avoiding me now?"
Erk! Shizuka froze, glancing over her shoulder.
Itachi smirked at her, leaning against a locker again; today, the obnoxious shirt read "I'm not a stalker, your house is just everywhere I go." (And justly so, Shizuka thought with a shiver) "Well?"
"Yes!" Shizuka snapped, glaring at him. "You're creepy, annoying, and have a really bad habit of showing up wherever I am and breaking my space-bubble! Now if you'll excuse me, I have a class to go to." Giving him one final glare, she pushed her friends into the stairwell.
Itachi smirked, pushing himself off the locker and going down another stairwell. Hakai-teki no Shizuka... Very interesting, indeed...
(English)
"HELLO, IRUKA-SENSEI!" Shizuka shouted, coming into the room three minutes before the bell rang.
The young teacher jumped, papers flying. "H-Hakai-teki?"
"I am ON TIME, sensei!" she shouted happily, slamming her hands down on his desk.
"Er... ok?" Iruka looked from side to side warily. "C-Can you take your seat, please...?"
"Absolutely, sensei!" Shizuka actually ran to her seat and sat down, folding her hands and smiling brightly. And it disturbed Sakura, Ukon and Neji thoroughly. Kimimaro was used to her strange behavioral swings and just sat down.
However, Shizuka's bright-and-cheery-and-scary mood was instantly drained when she saw what was on the board.
Create a verb-chart for the verb 'to have' in present, past and future tenses. Complete with translation.
Her jaw dropped. "Oh shit!"
Iruka's head snapped up. "Hakai-teki!"
"S-Sorry, Iruka-sensei." Shizuka groaned, banging her head on her desk. So screwed, so screwed, so screwed...
Sakura glanced at the empty desk on her right. Sasuke-kun isn't here yet... Maybe he really isn't going to be here... She sighed heavily.
A note was suddenly dropped over her shoulder. She jumped slightly, looking at it, then around her. Ukon didn't look at her as he walked down behind the desks to ask Iruka a question. She raised an eyebrow and unfolded the note.
You look sad. Are you ok? Can we talk?
Sakura smiled and wrote back, Yeah, we can talk. (Insert smiley face) Then, she handed it back to him as he walked by again. He tossed her a look and pocketed it. Sakura grinned back and picked up her pencil to begin the drill.
A few minutes later, Shizuka gave her the note back and whispered, "Why is he writing a note to you?"
"Because he's nice," Sakura whispered, taking the note and opening it.
Shizuka rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. Nice."
So... What's wrong?
Ukon leaned forward, arms crossed on his desk top, chin on his arms, looking at her keenly. Sakura blushed and wrote back.
Sasuke-kun isn't here today.
......So?
Sakura flushed angrily at his response and wrote back angrily, So, I'm worried about him! He never misses school!
Ukon raised an eyebrow at this, glanced at her, and wrote back, How can you tell he's here? He never talks anyway.
Yes, I can! And yes, he does!
When?
He talks to me!
Again, when? I've never seen the guy talk.
Well that's because you hardly ever talk, either!
I'm talking now. I talked to you for an entire class the other day.
Technically, you're not talking. Speaking of yesterday, you look a lot better. Your bruises are almost gone.
Ukon cast her a warning glare before responding.
Yeah, they're usually gone after a day or so. But let's not talk about that. It's icky. Let's talk about something else.
...Did you just say 'icky'?
It took him a while to respond.
Yes.
Hee hee, Ukon said icky!
Ukon blushed and glared at her.
I will shoot you.
No you won't.
What goes through your head that makes you think I won't?
Because you don't have a gun.
Wanna bet?
Sakura's eyes widened and her head whipped around to stare at Ukon; he smirked and patted his pocket, looking evil. Sakura broke out into a sweat; who knows... Maybe he really was carrying a gun.
Dear, sweet, wonderful Ukon who I bow down to in awe!
Damn straight. Fear me.
Shizuka glared at them both. "I'm not passing anymore notes. Wrap it up," she whispered angrily.
Ukon gave Sakura a smirk. "You heard her, pinkie. That's the end of that."
As he said this, Shino placed a folded piece of paper on Shizuka's desk. They all stared at it (except Kimimaro, for he is a suck-up student and was actually doing his work), then at Shino.
"Are you passing me a note?" Shizuka asked, eyebrow raised.
Shino shook his head and nodded at Neji.
"I thought he was mad at you," Sakura said with a frown. "I heard you guys had a problem in seventh period."
"You were the problem!" Shizuka snapped, taking the note.
Ukon and Sakura looked at it expectantly.
"Do you mind?" she snapped, glaring at both of them.
They rolled their eyes and went back to their drills.
Shizuka opened the note, seeing Neji's now-familiar handwriting.
Sorry I was such a jerk yesterday. I was mad at Sakura, not you, and I'm sorry.
(Insert little picture of a chibi Neji smiling, with a little word-bubble that said "Forgive me?")
Shizuka grinned. That was so cute!
However, being Shizuka, she had to give him hell first.
You didn't come over to help me study yesterday either, you sick asshole! I forgot to do my Biology homework because you weren't there to remind me! I got in trouble with Kurenai! I hate you!
Neji's jaw dropped when he got the note back, and he turned to give Shizuka a fearful look, to which she glared. He quickly wrote back.
I'm sorry! I thought you'd still be mad at me! I didn't get back from practice till around four and I was beat!
Yeah, right!
Shizuka smirked at her evilness as she passed the note back. If she played her cards right, she would have him eating out of her hand in about two minutes. Speaking of cards... She raised her hand. "Sensei, I have to go to my locker, I forgot my notebook." (How was that relevent?)
Iruka raised an eyebrow at her.
"No, I really did!" she cried, waving her arms angrily. "Honest!"
He sighed. "Fine. Take the pass."
"Ok." Shizuka got up, grabbed the pass, and went out into the hall. Glancing around first to make sure it was void of stalkers, of course; her previous encounters with Itachi popping up unexpectedly everywhere where beginning to bug her (Girl doesn't know how good she has it...). Seeing that he was, she went downstairs, trying to get her bearings and locate her locker. Reaching the first floor, she looked at the nearest one. 1564. Her locker was 1749. She sighed. She had a long way to go. Walking around until the numbers began going backwards, she followed them into she was well into the 1600s. Remembering where she was, she sighed with relief and started to go around the corner and to her locker when voices stopped her in her tracks.
"That's 500 a pound, you ass," said a cold, quiet voice.
"500?! What the hell?!" said a loud, obviously miffed voice. "Hell no, I ain't payin' that much for–"
"Hey, asshole, this shit's pure, alright?" the quiet voice snapped. "You don't see this every day! 500 or nothin'!"
Shizuka scowled, regaining her confidence. No way were two damn drug dealers going to keep her from her goal: her locker. Going around the corner, she stopped only for a moment to take in the scene.
Itachi was leaning against her locker, arms crossed, glaring at a much larger guy with a shaved head and huge muscles. Although Itachi was much smaller then the other boy, he seemed to be ruling the conversation.
"So, how 'bout it?" Itachi glared at the other guy.
"Fine, Uchiha, fine," the man growled, looking pissed. "What are you doing out here, though, man, isn't your locker upstairs? That's where you tell us to leave our payments and everything."
"I'm waiting for someone, get your–" Itachi suddenly noticed Shizuka, who was standing in the hall looking at them. "And here she is." Itachi tossed Shizuka a smirk, then glared at the other guy. "You drop me the payment by sixth period, asshole, got it? In my locker, 500 a pound! It better all be there or you won't get your shit."
"Yeah, yeah..." The man tossed Shizuka a glance that looked more like a leering stare, to which she glared.
Shizuka glared at Itachi as he turned and opened her locker for her. "Don't ever fuckin' deal drugs outside my locker again, asshole, got it?" she snapped, waiting for him to open it.
He rolled his eyes, stepping back so she could get what she needed. "Yeah, yeah, don't tell me what to do."
"It's my locker! I can tell you whatever the hell I want!" She went over to get her English notebook.
"The locker you can't open?" He smirked at her before reaching over and picking up the long, thick braid she'd plaited her unnaturally long, dark hair into. "What's this?"
"A braid, dumbass."
"You need to leave your hair down."
She glared at him. "Don't tell me what to do with my hair. Play with your own if you like hair."
Itachi scoffed, acknowledging the ponytail at the nape of his neck while he leaned on the locker next to hers.
"You have a leaning fetish, don't you?" she said coldly before tossing the braid over her shoulder and walking away with her notebook.
"Well, yes, I do." He pushed himself off the locker and fell into step with her. "It makes me look cool."
"Keep telling yourself that." She didn't look at him, picking up her pace.
"You have something against me?" he asked, keeping his pace even with hers.
"You're stalking me!"
"No, I'm not, read the shirt."
Shizuka glanced at his shirt ("I'm not a stalker, your house is just every place I go") and scoffed. "Isn't that a contradiction in it's self? And it's good for you that you haven't been to my house or my dad would make you eat lead."
"I'm sure." Itachi smirked.
Death glare rating: 7
"Am I invading your bubble?" he asked mockingly, reaching over to touch her side, causing her to squirm.
"Shut up and yes, you are, now leave me alone!"
"Me and my friends were very disappointed when you didn't join us yesterday, Hakai-
teki," Itachi said smoothly, changing the subject.
"Too bad for you, I don't go out with people I barely know."
"I was giving you a chance to get to know me, Hakai-teki. I assumed you would take it."
"And I supposed it never entered that thick skull of yours that there might actually be a girl out there who didn't like you?"
He didn't even hesitate. "Nope."
"Well, I hereby prove you wrong: I don't like you." She glared at him.
"I beg to differ, Hakai-teki."
"What the fuck makes you–Hey!" Shizuka was cut off as he suddenly moved forward and put his arms around her waist, crushing her so her back was against him.
"What makes me think that?" he said softly in her hair. "Because when I do this... you blush."
"No, I don't!" Shizuka snapped, even though her cheeks felt hot.
"Really?" He turned her around so he could see her face; her cheeks where a slight pink. "What if I did this?" He bent down and kissed the corner of her mouth; not quite on the lips, but close enough to make her freeze.
Stepping back, he smirked. "I think I'm going to have to take you out for that drink now, whether you like it or not."
Shizuka recovered and snapped, "I can't go now, I have a class!"
"Oh, yes. English, 221, Iruka. Is the next class one you would miss terribly?"
"No, but my brother is in that class, and so are Kidoumaru and Tayuya. They'd notice, for sure."
"Ah. Class after that?"
"Gym. All my friends are in it. Hey, I thought you knew my schedule by heart." She gave him a critical look.
"I do. What about after school?"
"My dad would kill me."
"Dinner?"
"My dad would kill me."
A temper vein showed it's self on Itachi's forehead for a split second. "I will get you on this date, bitch."
"Uh-huh, sure." Shizuka rolled her eyes. By now, they were outside Iruka's classroom. "'Bye, animal." She gave him one final glare before opening the door and closing it in his face.
"Took you long enough, Hakai-teki," Iruka said critically as she gave him back the pass.
"I got lost, ok?" she snapped, thinking of an excuse quick, before going to her seat. Neji's note sat on the flower under her desk, waiting patiently for her to pick up, which she did, as soon as she sat down and Iruka's attention wasn't focused on her anymore.
No, honestly! You can ask Hinata in Gym if you want! I fell asleep as soon as I got home! Please don't hate me!
Shizuka grinned. He was trying so desperately for her not to hate him. It wasn't fun to torment him anymore if he actually believed her.
I was only kidding, I don't hate you.
Neji's reaction to this response was almost hilarious; it appeared he'd been holding his breath since the moment she'd picked up the note, and when he read her response, he left it out in relief, took a few minutes to collect himself, then wrote back.
Don't ever do that again.
Do what?
Say you hate me. I don't like people hating me.
Shizuka grinned at this, and was about to respond when the bell for lunch rang, which meant she didn't need to, as Neji came over to sit in Shino's quickly vacated seat. He turned it around so he could share Shizuka's desk again, taking out the usual assortment of healthy food (sandwich, bag of uncooked vegetables, applesauce, water) and sat down. "Uchiha not here?" he asked Sakura, nodding to Sasuke's empty chair.
Sakura nodded sadly.
"Uchiha?" Shizuka repeated, unwrapping her bento box. Isn't that was that guy called Itachi? Uchiha?
"Yeah. Uchiha Sasuke." Neji groaned. "He's so annoying."
"No, he's not!" Sakura cried, rising to her crush's defense. "You're just jealous!"
"Jealous?" Neji scoffed. "Of what? The guy can barely go out of his own home without being bombarded by fan girls. Thank you, but no." He took a bite of his sandwich. "I'd rather retain my privacy, thanks."
"Hey, I'm one of those girls!" Sakura snapped.
"And thus, I pity you, for wasting so much of your time."
Her jaw dropped. "What?!"
"That was mean, Neji, stop it," Shizuka ordered, breaking her chopsticks apart and giving him a tap on the nose with the other end (the one she doesn't eat off). "Say sorry."
"Why? It's the truth." Neji gave her a blank look.
"Lesson one," Ukon said as several temper veins appeared in Sakura's forehead. "Just because it's true doesn't mean you have to say it."
Sakura stopped being mad to laugh at this. "How would you know, Ukon?"
He shrugged. "I live with her." He gestured to Shizuka. "How do you think I know?"
Shizuka turned to glare at him. "What's that supposed to mean?!"
"Exhibit A." Ukon yawned and stretched before getting ready for a nap.
Sakura looked down at the lunch she had made Sasuke. He hadn't had a lunch yesterday, or on the first day of school, so she'd decided to fix that by making him one herself. But, he wasn't here today to eat it... "Um, Ukon?" She blushed slightly, going into Hinata-mode by twiddling the knot of the cloth binding the bento box around in her fingers.
He lifted his sleepy head from his pillow (a.k.a., folded arms) and opened a bleary, half-awake eye. "Aye?"
"Do... Do you want this lunch?" Sakura gave him a nice smile, holding it up.
Shizuka and Neji stopped eating, looking at the two.
Ukon looked at the box. "I'm not going to eat your lunch. I don't believe in anorexics."
Sakura blushed slightly. "No, I have my own! This was for someone else, but I want you to have it."
Ukon looked at the box for a little longer. Shizuka and Neji continued watching both of them warily. Finally, Ukon spoke. "Eh, fine." He held out a hand, for it across Kimimaro and Shizuka, his head still rested on his other arm.
Sakura smiled, giving it to him, and got out her own bento.
Ukon sat up and looked at it. He raised an eyebrow. "It's pink."
"Mm-hmm!" She nodded, smiling brightly. "And the cloth is scented! It makes it pretty!"
His eyebrow skyrocketed as he unwrapped the cloth and sniffed it. He got a weird look on his face before setting it aside and opening the box, peeking inside.
There was a long silence.
"Sakura..." He lifted a small, pink thing out of the box with his chopsticks. "...What's this?"
She looked. "An octopus. See? I made it with eyes and legs and everything!"
"I can see that." He tried not to look disgusted. "Why is it pink?"
Neji choked on a carrot.
"I like pink," Sakura answered innocently.
Ukon sighed and shook his head. "Sakura, Sakura, Sakura... If you want to impress Uchiha with your 'fabulous home cooking,' don't make his food pink."
Neji nearly died on the carrot; Shizuka patted him on the back sympathetically. After realizing that this wasn't going to work, she punched him in the back with her fist until he coughed up the carrot.
"Please don't kill my goalie," Genma called, coming in to give Iruka a folder full of (unimportant and nameless) documents.
"Hey, coach," Neji said, still gasping for breath.
"That's your coach?" Shizuka asked while the two teachers talked at Iruka's desk.
Neji nodded, eating another carrot (doesn't learn fast, does he?).
"That's the guy who kept you till frickin' four thirty so you couldn't come help me homework?"
I don't like where this is going... He nodded.
"Blah blah blah, teacher stuff, blah blah blah," said Iruka, up at the front of the room.
"Blah blah blah, soccer stuff, blah blah–Yes?" Genma turned when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He looked down. "Who are you?"
Shizuka glared up at him, hands on her hips.
Insert long silence.
"Can I help you?" Genma asked, raising an eyebrow, barely phased.
She continued to glare up at him. "Are you Neji's coach?"
"Yes. What about it?"
"Did you keep him at practice till four thirty?"
Meanwhile, in the back of the room, Neji sunk lower and lower in his chair, wishing he could disappear.
"Yes, I did," Genma answered, smirking at Neji's actions, which he could see but Shizuka couldn't, since her back was towards him.
"Neji's supposed to tutor me after school," she said bluntly.
"That's very nice. What about it?"
"Did you know that because you kept him at practice till four thirty, he couldn't tutor me?"
"No, I didn't. So?"
"Did you know I had a Biology assignment due today that I needed his help with?"
"No, I didn't." Genma smirked. This kid was interesting.
"Do you want me to fail Biology?"
"I suppose not."
"Then don't keep him at school so late," Shizuka snapped before turning on her heel and going back to her seat.
"Ma'am, yes, ma'am," Genma said, giving her a mock salute.
Meanwhile, Neji wished he could just spontaneously combust and get it over with.
(After class)
"God damn Social Studies," Shizuka grumbled, stalking out of the class with Kimimaro, who was smiling at her behind her back. I'd rather go on a date with that jerk-off then go to this damn class...
"God damn you!" Neji cried, following them. "I'm never going to hear the end of this!"
"I'm sure there was a point in there somewhere." Shizuka yawned, stretching. "Ok, come on, Kimimaro, time for torture."
Grumbling darkly to himself, Neji went down another hall, leaving Sakura and Ukon alone.
Sakura turned on Ukon. "You weren't really going to shoot me, were you?"
"That's for me to know and you to find out, chickie," he said with a smirked, going up the nearest stairwell.
Sakura's jaw dropped. (He really was going to shoot us!) N... no, I'm sure he was kidding, he didn't really.. have a gun... she told herself, going off to find her next class.
(Language Arts)
Sakura sighed hugely, tapping her pencil rhythmically on her desktop, starring at Sasuke's empty seat, which was diagonal from hers. Sasuke-kun isn't here yet... Maybe he's not coming at all... I hope he's ok...
"Sakura!" Ino hissed, jerking Sakura out of her thoughts. When she had her attention, Ino nodded towards the front of the room.
Looking up, Sakura saw the teacher glaring at her. "Um... What was the question?"
"Define the verb and subject in this sentence," Asuma ordered, pointing to the bored; he was very grumpy, as he could not smoke in the classroom, and was having serious nicotine symptoms.
"Um... The verb is 'shot' and the subject is 'he'," Sakura answered, recovering quickly, which got Asuma's attention off her for the time being. She sighed heavily. That was close... I hope Sasuke-kun is ok...
(Gym)
Ino smirked at Sakura as they left the locker room. It was an evil, plotting smirk, and Sakura read it instantly. Oh, crap! "Shizuka, did you get an upperclassman to agree to giving me the flower?" she whispered desperately to her friend.
Shizuka raised an eyebrow. "Eh?"
Sakura groaned. "You didn't, did you?"
"You need to remind me of these things, ok?" Shizuka sighed, turning to scrutinize her group of male upperclassmen friends. "Ok, take your pick, and I'll tell them to say they gave it to you."
"Um... Ukon." Sakura pointed to the older twin, who was participating today.
"Ok, Uk–Oh, crap." Shizuka stopped.
Ino had, in all her innocent dumb-blondeness, taken Sakura's pointing to mean that she was pointing out the guy for her to ask, so she went right up to Ukon and said, "Did you give Sakura a flower in her locker?"
Ukon starred down at her for a few minutes, then up at Sakura, who instantly flushed, then down at Ino again, and shook his head. "No. Giving flowers is stupid," he said bluntly, turning away.
Sakura's jaw dropped. It's not stupid... Shizuka, seeing the look on her face, turned and gave Sakkon the biggest death glare she possessed, and he, taking the hint, said, "It was me, not Ukon. Sakura helped me with some homework so I was thanking her."
"Oh." Ino pouted slightly. "That's so incredibly lame!" she cried, turning away to go talk to Hinata.
Sakkon just shrugged and gave Shizuka an "Are you happy?" look before turning away.
"Ok, kiddies," Jiraiya shouted, getting their attentions, "due to the fact that the school board believes that starting you out in rugby and volleyball is too difficult... today, we're having a three-part race! I'm going to divide you all into pairs, and no, you don't get to pick, so pay attention!"
There were instant groans at this as Jiraiya began randomly pulling names out of his head. Ten minutes later, they were all in pairs, and hardly anyone was happy about it except Hinata, but that was only because she was paired with Naruto. TenTen was paired with Kiba, Lee was paired with Shikamaru, Ino was paired with Chouji, Sakkon was paired with Shino, Kimimaro (who had decided to participate today for some reason) was paired with Jiroubou, Tayuya was paired with Kidoumaru (but only because they had been sending Jiraiya death glares all week), Shizuka was paired with Neji, and Sakura was paired with Ukon.
"Ok, go get in your pairs and I'll explain the rules of the race!" Jiraiya called, going into the equipment room.
The teams, grumbling loudly with a few exceptions, went to stand by their partners; Ino looked like she wanted to kill Chouji and Chouji looked like he wanted to be killed; Naruto was trying to strike up a conversation with Hinata but Hinata could only stare and mumble; Sakkon and Shino just plain didn't talk, but had a mutual agreement that they were going to win this thing; Kimimaro looked like he really didn't want to be here, and Jiroubou looked worried, like always; TenTen had Kiba in a headlock already; Shikamaru was trying to rip his ears off while Lee preached to him about the flare of youth; Shizuka and Neji were glaring at each other, as if daring the other to complain about the match-up; in fact, the only group that really seemed in harmony with each other was Tayuya and Kidoumaru, but that was only because they were friends.
Sakura sighed and went over to Ukon, who was by himself now, since all his friends were in groups, kneeling on the hardwood floor. "Um... hi," she said, to let him know she was there.
He merely glanced up, nodded, and went back to starring at the floor. Sakura groaned inwardly; he was back to being socially withdrawn again... This was going to be harder then she thought.
"Look," he said finally; at first she thought he was going to apologize for saying flowers were stupid, but all he said was, "I want to beat my brother and he has a guy on his team, so just make sure you don't mess up."
Sakura's jaw dropped. (Oh, it's on, now! Bring it, fairy! Inner-Sakura shouted, brandishing her fists. "What's that supposed to mean?!"
"I'm just saying..." he said quietly, looking away.
Sakura glared. Ok, this boy was definitely going down! How dare he sexist-ize her! She could beat him any day!
"Ok!" Jiraiya came out of the equipment room with a large box full of random things. "The first part of the race is a three-legged race with you and your partners. The first five teams across the finish line move onto the next round. The second part of the race, you have to climb across these monkey bars," he gestured to the monkey bars that magically appeared (you know, those bar things that kids climb across? On swing sets? Yeah) "with one of you going backwards, with your legs entwined together."
There were instant exclamations of protest at this, but Jiraiya ignored them and continued. "The first three teams finished with the monkey bars get to go on to the next round, which I have yet to think of, but I promise, it'll be good."
Sakura sighed. The first round was no problem; she was fast, and she figured Ukon had to be, as well, because... well, because he was Ukon. She glanced over the other teams as they all lined up to have their legs tied together. Like Ukon said, Sakkon and Shino's team would be a problem, and so would Neji and Shizuka; Neji was on the soccer team, which meant he worked out and ran around a lot, and Shizuka... well, yeah, she was pretty fast, too, from what Sakura had seen of her running out of the limo to glomp Neji the morning they got their uniforms. TenTen and Kiba might also be a problem, since Kiba was just a natural live wire, and TenTen just had multitudes of energy that Sakura had no idea where she got it from.
After everyone was tied up and in a line at one end of the gym, Sakura and Ukon instinctively put their arms around each other's waist and tested the connection; Neji and Shizuka had already done the same, though Neji blushed furiously and it was Shizuka's turn to try to spontaneously combust. Shikamaru looked ready to fall asleep on his feet, Hinata was blushing so much she could barely breathe, Sakkon looked ready to kill something (or someone) when actually, he was just excited, and Tayuya and Kidoumaru looked like they just didn't care (which they didn't). Ino looked like she wanted to kill everything and everyone in front of her, but, thankfully, that wasn't possible, as she had a deadweight known as Chouji tied to her ankle.
"Ready?" called Jiraiya from the other end of the gym.
"Middle foot first," Ukon whispered to Sakura. "Then swing it like a crutch. Got it?"
"Set!"
Sakura nodded her understanding, bracing herself.
"Go!"
Sakura and Ukon were the first to take off, having made a system; they were closely followed by Sakkon and Shino, who apparently had a similar system, and Neji and Shizuka, who looked like they were just running as fast as they could to get it over with as soon as possible. Hinata was running like she'd never run before, so she could help "Naruto-kun" into the next round. Tayuya and Kidoumaru where jogging amiably, looking as if they had been doing this all their lives and it wasn't that important.
However... the other teams...
"Shikamaru-san, please move! You can't sleep now!"
"KIBA, YOU IDIOT! HOW DARE YOU TRIP ME UP?!"
"IT'S YOUR FAULT, TOO! IT'S YOUR FOOT, TOO, TOO!"
"Chouji, why are you eating?!"
"Shikamaru-san! Please!"
"Let's just watch, Jiroubou... They'll come back eventually..."
"Yes, sir."
Needless to say, we know who won the first round.
Gasping for breath, Ukon and Sakura, who were first over the finish line, quickly untied themselves and ran over to the monkey bars. Ukon got up first, so he was facing her, and hung there, waiting for her to get on. Then, they quickly wrapped their legs together and started climbing across (Yeah, Sakura's scary when she's determined). Sakkon and Shino, who had come across barely a second after Ukon and Sakura, untied themselves and got on the monkey bars with equal speed, barely a foot behind Ukon and Sakura, who were only half-way (there are five separate monkey bars). Shizuka and Neji followed, not bothering to untie themselves, since it wasn't specified in the rules, and jumped onto the monkey bars, Neji going backwards; the rope made it so their legs were still connected, but they didn't have to do anything that would make Neji's head explode from blushing so much.
Tayuya and Kidoumaru reached the monkey bars and looked up at them, then at each other.
"Nah." They sat down.
SNG feels sorry for Hinata and Naruto. They made it to the monkey bars and everything, and were about to climb, but Hinata had to realize that her bare legs were touching Naruto's, and she let go of the bar, causing them both to drop, and got disqualified. Don't you feel sorry for them? I do.
Anyways.
Sakkon and Shino finished barely a second before Ukon and Sakura, which only served to piss Ukon off; however, Neji and Shizuka had them both beat, finishing about five seconds after they started on the bars (they're going fast because Neji is in front and he's pulling Shizuka like a rag doll).
"Ok, what's the next round?" Sakura asked, as Ukon bent over, hands on his knees, gasping for breath.
"Oh are you done already?" Jiraiya looked up at them all from where he was scribbling "behavioral notes" on his big old "teacher book". "Ok, how 'bout kareoke?" (I have no idea how to spell that, and it's not on my spell check.. Sob!)
Sakura readily agreed; she knew she could sing, and she also knew Neji could sing; he'd been in the eighth grade boys' choir when she was in seventh grade. Sakkon and Ukon agreed, as well, as did Shino (if you're wondering why Shino is being so agreeable, I figured, he is kind of an agreeable guy, isn't he? I mean, he passes notes, changes seats... He's a pretty nice guy). The twins glanced over at Shizuka, grinning slightly.
"KAREOKE?!" she exploded, hair standing on end, looking ready to kill.
"Do you want to forfeit?" Jiraiya asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No!"
"Then do the kareoke." Jiraiya got up to get the kareoke machine out of the equipment room (This room is like a teachers' magic hat, dude!)
"...Oh, man!" Shizuka groaned, tugging at her hair.
"Ok, I'm going to assign you guys some songs..." Jiraiya looked through his CD collection. "Ok, Neji and Shizuka have... this song thing..." He held up a CD, which Neji took. "And, Sakkon and Shino can have this one, I guess..." He gave Shino another CD. "And Ukon and Sakura can have this one." Getting out a set of microphones, he said, "Sakkon and Shino go first."
Shino put in the CD and took one of the microphones, waiting for the words to show up on the screen.
When the music came on, there were a lot of mixed reactions.
Ukon burst out laughing.
Sakkon's jaw dropped.
Neji and Sakura turned red trying not to laugh.
Shino went "..."
Shizuka screamed.
"NOOOOOOOOO! NOT 'LOOK AT US NOW'!" she screamed, pulling at her hair in agony.
"I refuse!" Sakkon shouted, throwing his microphone down and storming away.
Shino just shrugged and sat down on the bleachers with the rest of the class, who had burst out laughing at Sakkon's reaction.
"...I like that song!" Jiraiya snapped, before putting in Neji and Shizuka's CD.
The music began.
"AH, HELL, NO!" Neji threw down his microphone, as well. "Man, you are one twisted... person, sensei!"
Shizuka, meanwhile, was in trauma.
"Ok, fine, be that way, D.D.R. hater," Jiraiya grumbled, putting in Ukon and Sakura's CD.
Ukon's eyes widened in horror.
Sakura giggled.
Neji's jaw dropped.
Lee cried.
Ino starred.
TenTen had Kiba in a headlock.
Chouji and Jiroubou fought over chips.
Shizuka frothed at the mouth.
Sakkon ran back into the gym. "Sing that song, Ukon! I fuckin' dare you!" he shouted, pointing at his brother, forgetting for a moment that he was still in school (Not that Jiraiya cared).
Ukon groaned. His competitive nature wouldn't let him back down. "...Fine... Come on, Sakura."
(Lyrics posted at the end, with designated parts)
(After class)
"AND THAT DOESN'T LEAVE THIS ROOM, DO YOU HEAR ME?!" Ukon shouted at the rest of the class, who were all laughing hysterically.
"Well, on the bright side," Sakura said, surpressing a grin as she patted him on the shoulder, "we beat your brother."
"Yeah..."
"On the bad side, however, your ego is totally shot." She grinned hugely at him as he blushed.
Ukon blushed furiously and stormed out of the room. "Shut up! Leave me alone!"
Ok, well, that seemed like a good place to end it! (Kenshin grin) Now, I know you all are like "DUDE WHAT DID HE HAVE TO SING?!" so here's the lyrics, as promised, with the different singers' parts shown.
Review answers are after the lyrics!
(P.S.: The comedy is listening to the lyrics and picturing Ukon, with his uberly deep voice, singing it... That and the fact that he and Sakkon are kind of... womanly...)
Sakura: I'm going out tonight-I'm feelin' alrightGonna let it all hang out
Ukon: Wanna make some noise-really raise my voice, Yeah, I wanna scream and shout
Sakura: No inhibitions-make no conditions, Get a little outta line
Ukon: I ain't gonna act politically correctI only wanna have a good time
Both: The best thing about being a woman
Is the prerogative to have a little fun and...
Sakura: Oh, oh, oh, go totally crazy-forget I'm a lady
Men's shirts-short skirts
Oh, oh, oh, really go wild-yeah, doin' it in style
Ukon: Oh, oh, oh, get in the action-feel the attractionColor my hair-do what I dareOh, oh, oh, I wanna be free-yeah, to feel the way I feel
Both: Man! I feel like a woman!
Sakura: The girls need a break-tonight we're gonna take
The chance to get out on the town
Ukon: We don't need romance-we only wanna dance
We're gonna let our hair hang down
Both: The best thing about being a womanIs the prerogative to have a little fun and...
Sakura: Oh, oh, oh, go totally crazy-forget I'm a lady
Men's shirts-short skirts
Oh, oh, oh, really go wild-yeah, doin' it in style
Ukon: Oh, oh, oh, get in the action-feel the attraction Color my hair-do what I dare Oh, oh, oh, I wanna be free-yeah, to feel the way I feel
Both: Man! I feel like a woman!
Both: The best thing about being a woman Is the prerogative to have a little fun and...
Sakura: Oh, oh, oh, go totally crazy-forget I'm a lady
Men's shirts-short skirts
Oh, oh, oh, really go wild-yeah, doin' it in style
Ukon: Oh, oh, oh, get in the action-feel the attractionColor my hair-do what I dareOh, oh, oh, I wanna be free-yeah, to feel the way I feel
Both: Man! I feel like a woman!
Sakura: I get totally crazy
Can you feel it
Ukon: Come, come, come on baby I feel like a woman
Sigh. He feels like a woman, but he wants to die. Lol.
Ukon: I WILL FUCKIN' KILL YOU, SNG!
o.O No, you can't, I haven't explained why you said flowers were stupid!
Ukon: THEY ARE STUPID!
Ino: OI!
Ok... Review answers! There's a lot this time, so bare with me.
Dragonman180: Lol upperclassmen suck. No, I'm totally kidding, they're hilarious because they think they own the school; they were there for four years, big whoop. Anyway, I like fics were Itachi gets smacked around; adds a bit of realism to the storyline. Because this is a normal high school, they can't be inhumanly fast like they are in the manga or anime. Lol, I'm sure he'll consider giving Naruto swirlies, but Itachi's relationship to Sasuke (oh god, not yaoi... sick minds...) isn't really established yet, is it?
Oh my god someone from Missouri just called my house... Anyway.
Kie-san: Lol, you and DM180's names are recognized by my spell check now! Feel happy. Lol. No, they're not Ninjas, and... sigh. Kie-san, Kie-san, Kie-san... I can't tell you anything yet! It would ruin the story! As for the AMVs... er... which ones? I have (counts) 56 AMVs! (I went on mad downloading this morning... It was fun!) Hmm... (looks for good ones) I wanna find you some with good timing, so you don't waste time and effort........ Er... Let me get back to you, ok?
Rose: Okies! Here's the chappie! :)
SilentAdaon: TEN-NEJ-SHIZ TRIANGLE?!!?!?!!!!!! HELL NO!!! God, ew! I'm sorry, but ew! I hate TenTen-Neji pairings. Hate them like Shizuka hates school: with a sickness that threatens to crawl out my eyeballs. Sorry, but, no. (Tho there may be hints of one-sidedness... GASP! TY! I HAVE AN IDEA!!! -kisses your hand-) As for Naruto... Hm. He hasn't been showing up, has he? Oh well. He will, don't worry!
Mika: (runs away blushing and screaming) STOP COMPLIMENTING ME SO MUCH!!! (Ty, btw)
SkyBlueSunshine: Well, I don't know, you tell me... Lol, I can't say anything just yet... it's class-ee-fied infma-shee-on, that is!
RedLotusNin and IceHunterNin: Ah, gotta love the love-triangles. He does have a lot, doesn't he...? Oh well. I love love-triangles!
AznNarutoGrl-91: Go fish is the only two-man card game I know... I've never played poker or anything! (Runs away)
