Crimson Love
Sigh… what can S.N.G say about a chapter such as this…? Um. Well, no flames, please! I understand protests for your favorite character's sake, but… yeah.
Explanation for quick update: I LOVE Y'ALL SO MUCH! Lol. Plus, I finished this nice and quick because this chapter was part of what I've been building up to… you'll see what I mean…
Oh oh I know! Let's vote for our favorite pairings, ne? (SNG loves voting) You knows, you might actually change my mind if a lot of people vote….
Kyuubi: (jumps on SNG's head) GET IN MA BELLA!
Chapter Seven: Animosity
Shizuka was annoyed (I begin a lot of chapters like that, don't I?). She had woken up at the crack of dawn (actually, it was three-thirty a.m.) and, for some reason, could by no physical power convince herself to go back to sleep. So, she got up, took off her eye-cover sleeping thing (you know, like, those things girls put over their eyes at night? Yeah), put on her sunglasses (at night?) and went to curl up in her chair with her copy of Fushigi Yugi, Vol. 3, and read quietly to herself, utilizing the moonlight to her benefit.
She had just finished reading (sniffling softly) the part where Tamahome declared undying love to Miaka, when a voice started reading over her shoulder, "'You're no trouble... All the time I was in my world, I couldn't forget you... I had to see you again... That's why I came back...' What the hell are you reading, woman?"
Shizuka dropped the book, and would have shrieked if a hand hadn't covered her mouth, muffling the sound. She whipped around, ready to smack whoever had snuck in her room.
Itachi caught her hand, smirking. "I didn't think you'd be the type to be into romance manga." He climbed over the window sill, standing in her bedroom in all his gorgeous, smirking glory.
"Mmph!" she shouted, her cry still muffled by his hand. "Mmph mm-mm-mm hmph!"
"Hmm?" He removed the hand.
"What are you doing here!" she hissed.
"Why, I was pining for you, love, so I came to see you." He knelt next to the arm of her chair, still holding her hand, gazing up at her.
"D-Don't you think that's coming off j-just a little too strong?" she stammered, blushing under his gaze. When he continued to stare at her in silence, not letting go of her hand, she began to feel a little uncomfortable. "Um... How's your arm?" She glanced at his upper arm where Ukon's bullet had cut it.
"Fine," he said casually. "I got it fixed up." He continued to look at her.
"Er... How'd you get in here? Didn't the–"
"Your security system lacks much, love."
"I'll have to fix that if I want to avoid these nightly raids, then, won't I?" she said coolly, a little of her unruly side coming back.
He just smirked at her. "I'd like to see you try."
"I'm serious!"
"I believe you..." He suddenly loomed closer. "But I promise you, I will find a way." He gently kissed the corner of her lips again, lingering there.
Shizuka blushed furiously as he pulled away to sit on his heels before her, gazing up at her like an obedient puppy. He looked rather ridicules compared to the tough, stalker Itachi she knew at school. Actually... he's still a stalker, she thought, the bridge of her nose turning a slight blue. "Why are you so obsessed with me!" she demanded of him.
He sighed slightly, closing his eyes. She breathed a sigh of relief when his gaze was no longer on her. "I was trying to tell you in the car," he explained in a low voice. "When I met you... I felt like I already knew you... and I couldn't get you out of my head..."
Shizuka stared. "You really are my stalker."
"No, I am not," he said firmly, glaring swiftly. "But for the past four days, all I can think about..." He looked up at her again. "...Is you."
Shizuka gulped slightly as his words washed over her. "So..." She tried to process it. "...Are you saying this is, like, reincarnation, or something?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying."
"Um... Oh?"
He gave her a small smirk. "Would your daddy let you stay home from school alone tomorrow?"
Shizuka blinked. "Um... if I was sick, I guess... Why?"
"Would he leave any of your little buddies home with you?"
"I... guess not... Kimimaro still has to go to school..." Where is he going with this...?
"Then I suggest you get very sick, very fast, love, because I'm going to be at this window at ten o'clock tomorrow to pick you up." He stood.
Oh... that's where. "Say what!" She starred up at him.
He looked down at her calmly. "Did I stutter?"
"No, but what makes you think–"
"Would you rather go to school?" Itachi asked bluntly.
"...No..."
"Then tomorrow, I want you waiting for me in the shortest skirt and tank top you own," he ordered, swinging his legs over the window sill. He smirked at her, standing on the ground below her window. "If you're not there, I'm not above dragging you out of class," he informed her before disappearing into the night. (Ooo, dramatic!)
Shizuka starred at the spot where his face had been a moment ago, then suddenly huffed angrily. Damn him, telling me what to do! She glanced at her cell phone lying on her night stand. The screen-saver clock read 4:50. Damn. Well, at least I killed an hour or so. Yawning hugely, she grabbed her bath robe and went into her bath room.
Sakura woke up at about five thirty the next morning to Shizuka shaking her roughly. "Huh... what?"
"Come on, get up," her dark-haired friend ordered in a slightly raspy voice. "It's your turn for a shower." She ended this statement by coughing and hacking a bit.
"Are you ok?" Sakura asked groggily, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, slightly reluctant to leave the warm covers.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Shizuka answered, covering her mouth as another small coughing fit took her. "Go ahead and take your shower." She went to sit in her chair. "There's towels and stuff by the tub."
"Ok." Shivering slightly, Sakura got out of bed and went into the bathroom, rubbing her arms for warmth. The tiled floor of the bathroom was freezing, but there was steam hanging in the air; Shizuka had probably just gotten out of the shower.
Sakura highly doubted Shizuka had had any say in the decorations of her bathroom. The walls of the bathroom were an off-white, and the sink and tub where made of white marble. The shower curtains were light pink, as were the towels and the sink accessories (i.e.: soap tub, tooth brush cup, etc.). There were also framed pictures of pink lotuses on the walls. Next to the tub were two doors. Opening the one closest to the tub, she saw it was a kind of a linen closet, full of extra towels and shampoo and soap. The other door, she saw, was a toilet stall, with the toilet and all its necessary items (toilet paper) in it. She personally thought the whole arrangement was rather cute, but had a feeling Shizuka hated it.
After Sakura had taken her shower (having experimented with the different-smelling shampoos for about five minutes before beginning), she wrapped herself up in a towel and went back into Shizuka's room.
Kimimaro looked up at her where he was playing Naruto 2, fully dressed in his school uniform. "Don't mind me," he said calmly, going back to his game. "I won't look."
Sakura blushed furiously as Shizuka, coughing slightly, ushered her into her closet. "Does he always do that?" Sakura asked while Shizuka picked out some clothes for her to wear long enough to get to her house to put her uniform on.
"Do what?"
"Just pop up like that."
"I never noticed," Shizuka said calmly, handing Sakura an outfit. "Here, wear this. It's nothing skimpy or anything, so your mom won't freak out."
"Ok, thanks." Sakura took the clothes Shizuka gave her and lifted them up. She sweat-dropped. "'Nothing skimpy'!"
"Hey, it's the most un-skimpy thing I own, ok?" Shizuka rolled her eyes, coughing against the back of her hand. "Here." She took a hanger off the pole thing. "Wear this instead. It's the suit I wore on the first day of school."
"Are you sure you're not sick?" Sakura asked, frowning as she took the hanger.
"Yeah, I'm fine, ok, lemme alone." Shizuka stalked out of the closet.
Sakura shrugged it off and got dressed. She'd decided to wear her own... under garments... since it was pretty obvious Shizuka's chest was about two sizes bigger then hers; she didn't feel that weird about it, since she'd be changing at home anyway. Sakura scrutinized herself in the mirror after she was finished. The black slacks' legs were a little short on her, but the waist had an inch or so to spare so they hung low enough on her hips. The white, button-down shirt she left untucked so her mother wouldn't notice the low waistline of the pants. Normally, shirts like this made Sakura look even smaller then she actually was, but this shirt had a bust-gathering sewn at the center of the chest, so it made her look really feminine.
Sakura smiled to herself. "I look good in other people's clothes." Holding this piece of confidence to herself, she left the closet.
Ukon and Kidoumaru were there, now, fully dressed in their uniforms (and Kidoumaru had his trench coat). Kidoumaru was playing video games with Kimimaro and Ukon was picking over Shizuka like a worried hen.
"You look sick, Shizuka-sama, I bet you caught something last night, wearing just your uniform, I think you should go ask your father to let you stay home," he said in a genuinely worried tone.
"You look good in my clothes, Sakura," Shizuka called, ignoring his worrying. "Very cute."
And, of course, as is human nature, everyone in the room had to turn to see.
Sakura blushed at all the sudden attention. Kimimaro just nodded his head in approval of the outfit choice, and Kidoumaru followed suit so the two could continue their game. Ukon, however, just looked at her.
"Um... What?" (Why's he just starring at us like an idiot!)
"Huh?" He starred at her. "Oh." He shook himself slightly. "You look... uh..." He scratched the back of his head. "Well... actually... you look... um..."
"Don't strain yourself, Alpha-kun." Shizuka turned the page of the manga she was reading. (A/N: In the manga, during Ukon and Sakkon's summoning Jutsu, Ukon says 'Alpha,' and Sakkon says 'Beta'. See Naruto manga somewhere around the 200-range if you're still confused)
Ukon turned five shades of pink and turned on her. "I wasn't straining myself!"
"I think she looks good," Kidoumaru said casually, clicking away at the controller.
"Maybe I'm just a little more shy then you, huh?" Ukon snapped as he and Sakura both blushed.
"Yeah, ok, Alpha-kun." Kidoumaru rolled his eyes.
"Don't call me that!"
Ukon's shy...? Sakura thought thoughtfully (wow that sounded weird) as said twin pummeled Kidoumaru.
"Che." Ukon tucked his hair behind his head and sat down on Shizuka's bed. "Great fuckin' way to start the day."
"Good morning, Shizuka-kun," Orochimaru called, sticking his head in the door. (Everyone just congregates in her room, don't they?)
"Hi, Daddy." Shizuka didn't take her eyes off her manga.
"Good morning..." Orochimaru looked at Sakura. "...Shizuka's friend."
"Good morning, Shizuka's dad." Sakura gave him one of her sweet smiles but, in reality, she was glaring at him inwardly. He's the guy who beat Ukon up last night!
"Shizuka-kun, you can't go to school with a cough like that!" Orochimaru cried as Shizuka coughed into her hand.
"I'm fine, daddy."
"No, you're not! That's what you get for sleeping with your window open! You're staying home today, I don't care what you say." Orochimaru turned to Ukon. "Inform her homeroom teacher that she will be absent today."
"Yes, Orochimaru-sama." Sakura stole a glance at him. He was starring at a spot on the floor, his hands on his knees, shivering unconsciously, like a bird being cornered in its cage by a cat.
"Be ready to leave in ten minutes," Orochimaru instructed before leaving.
Sakura sat down near Ukon; the others in the room were two absorbed in their own doings to notice how distressed he was. "Ukon?" She touched his arm; he flinched.
"Yes, Sakura?" he said in a would-be calm voice.
"Are you ok?" she asked softly, so only he could hear.
He gave her a small grin. "I'm fine, Sakura."
"You don't look fine..." she said in a worried tone.
"Why wouldn't I be?" he asked, his voice slightly care-free.
"Well–"
"Come on, dickheads, we gotta go," Tayuya said, sticking her head in the door. "Shizuka-sama, why aren't you dressed?"
"She's staying home," Ukon explained as Kidoumaru and Kimimaro finished their game. "Come on, let's go."
After the four boys (plus Tayuya) had left, Shizuka gave Sakura a keen look.
"...What?" Sakura shifted nervously.
Shizuka shrugged. "Nothing. I just didn't think Ukon went for younger girls."
Sakura's jaw dropped. "What! No! I–"
"I'm just saying, his last girlfriend was around his age." Shizuka shrugged again and went back to the manga.
Sakura flushed angrily, stalking out of the room. Jeez! Can't anyone just be friends!
Hardly anyone spoke on the ride to Sakura's house. Sakkon and Ukon were riding with her, and it was highly common knowledge that Sakkon did not like Sakura. At all. So, Sakkon glared out of the window, Ukon watched clouds go by, and Sakura finally got to play with the buttons.
Sakkon glanced over as she reached for one of the buttons. "Don't touch that."
"Huh?" She touched it.
Loud polka music filled the car.
A temper-vein appeared on Sakkon's forehead as he reached over and turned off the music. "I said don't–Don't touch that one, either."
"Hmm?" She pushed it.
Country music.
Temper-veins. Plural, at that.
"What about this one?" She pushed another one.
R&B.
I believe Sakkon's entire forehead was overtaken by the vein.
"How 'bout this?"
Britney Spears.
"Don't. Touch. The. Buttons!" Sakkon snapped, pulled her hand away from them.
Sakura just smiled sweetly. Oh, how she loved making easily-annoyed people... well, annoyed.
Sakura's mom was waiting for them when they pulled into the driveway. Oh crap.
"Good morning, Sakura," her mom said coolly when her daughter opened the car door.
"Morning, mom." Sakura glanced back in the car. Ukon's face was as close to the glass of the window as he could get without looking stupid, starring up at Sakura's mom. Oh, jeez, he's in love with my mom... Sakura felt a soft, jealous feeling she didn't really understand.
"Thank you for bringing her home." Sakura's mom pulled Sakura out of the car and closed the door, then pulled Sakura towards the house.
"Mom, I–"
"Who were those boys?" her mom asked once they were inside.
"Sakkon and Ukon," she said meekly, knowing it was best to just answer the questions. "They go to my school."
"Why were they taking you home?" Sakura's mom crossed her arms, starring down at her daughter.
"Um... They work for Shizuka's dad."
"How old are they?"
"I forget..." She really would kill me if I told them I was in a car with two eighteen-year-olds! ...Wow, they really are old!
"Where did you sleep last night?"
"In Shizuka's room..."
"With just Shizuka?"
She nodded.
"Alright then. Go change into your uniform. I'm driving you to school."
Sakura heaved a sigh of relief when her mom went into the kitchen. (Safe!) That was pleasantly pain-free. Great, now I'm gonna have Ukon starring at my mom at school when she drops me off, too... What's he thinking, crushing on my mom! Now officially annoyed again, she went upstairs to change.
(Meanwhile)
Shizuka looked through her closet, searching for something to wear on her little 'outing.' Her cough had 'miraculously' healed after everyone had gone to school or work, and now, she had three hours to kill trying on clothes.
Shizuka's wardrobe contained mainly tank tops, skirts, cut-off jeans and a few dresses she wore to her dad's dinner parties. Itachi had said tank top and skirt, but of course, Shizuka wasn't one to dress the way people told her to. If he thinks he can tell me what to wear now, he's gonna think he can control everything! she thought huffily, pulling out a black suede skirt that came to her knees and a red peasant blouse. No way is he telling me what to wear! I'll dress the way I want to!
However, after trying on the skirt and blouse, she decided it 'wasn't-quite-right,'and discarded it over her shoulder.
(Geometry/Homeroom)
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura cried cheerfully, upon seeing her crush in his normal seat. "Are you feeling better?"
"Aa."
"That's good!" Sakura smiled sweetly, taking her seat.
"Sa-ku-ra..!"
"Hmm?" She looked at Ino, who had growled. "What?"
"You spent the night over Shizuka's!"
Sakura had a 'duh' look on her face. "Tell me, how do you get your information so fast?"
"I called your house and your mom told me. What are you thinking, spending the night over her house!"
Sakura glared. "It's none of your business if I sleep there or live there, Ino-pig!"
Ino just glared as Gai bellowed the role-call.
(Biology)
Sakura smiled at Kimimaro when he and Sakkon came into class. He actually gave her a small smile, and sat in Shizuka's seat, next to Sakura. "Hello," he said quietly.
"Hi." He must be lonely without Shizuka here... He's actually talking.
Then she realized what he was saying.
"Sakura, that's not the right notebook." He pointed to the book in her hands.
"Huh?" Sakura looked down. Sure enough, she, in all her dumbness that came with Sasuke being present in class, had forgotten to get her notebook out of her locker again."Sensei," she called, raising her hand, "I think I forgot my notebook again..."
Kurenai sighed. "Again, Hanuro? Take the pass."
Ignoring Sakkon's mocking snickers, Sakura got up, took the pass, and went downstairs to her locker. Sooner or later, she's going to think I'm meeting someone here or something... This is the second time in two days... Sakura sighed, twiddling the combination on her locker. (She, unlike Shizuka, had mastered the mechanism quickly... either that, or her locker is normal)
"Sakura?"
She looked up from her locker. Ukon stood a little ways down from the hall, looking like a deer caught in headlights. "Yes?"
"Um..." He looked around with shifty eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"This is my locker?" She raised an eyebrow. When he continued to look around nervously, she asked, "Did you want something?"
"...I was going to put this in there for you to find..." He held out his hand. In it was a pretty, pink carnation with a length of ribbon wrapped around the long stem. In one of the loops of the bow was a folded card.
(What do carnations mean again?) "You want me to give it to my mom?" she asked coolly, closing her locker, having removed her Biology notebook.
"Huh?" He starred at her in disbelief.
"Is it for my mom?"
"No... It's for..."
"Because you seemed to be quite taken with her this morning," Sakura continued in the same tone.
His jaw dropped. "What!"
She continued to give him cold looks.
"I was just looking at her!" he cried defensively. "I wanted to see if she looked like you and it was hard with the dark glass!"
"Mm-hmm, sure." She rolled her eyes.
His look of astonishment turned into a scowl. "Ok, fine." Turning on his heel, he stormed back the way he'd come, turning around the corner of the hall and out of sight.
Sakura rolled her eyes. It's his fault for starring at my mom... and she's almost twice his age, too! she thought angrily, following him to the stairwell at the end of the hall.
She turned when a speck of pink caught her eye. She looked down at the trash can at the corner of the hall where Ukon had turned. In it was the pink carnation, complete with note and ribbon. Might as well see who it was for, she thought casually, picking it up and opening the note.
Sakura:
Thank you for helping me. I'm sorry I was moody.
Ich denke, dass ich Sie liebe.
–Ukon.
Sakura's eyes widened when she saw it. So it was for me... Not mom... "Ok, I feel bad now." She untied the card from the flower and put the carnation in her binder so she could sneak it into class. She glanced at the ribbon; it was just long enough to be a hair ribbon. She gave it a small smile and tied it over her forehead, using it as a headband to keep her bangs out of her eyes. So what if it didn't match her uniform?
It matched her hair perfectly.
(Meanwhile)
Shizuka grimaced, throwing her head to the side, the two cucumbers she'd put over them falling off. "Damn, that is the last time I use those for baggy eyes," she said angrily, washing her face off.
Shizuka's face already felt very, very clean. She'd spent the last two hours moisturizing, plucking and experimenting with make-up, and had even used a pore-strip (which she also swore off for the rest of her life, and for good reason: that shit's painful!). She wasn't sure exactly why she was going to such lengths, but had decided a while ago on her excuse: the outfit demanded it.
She glanced at the outfit she'd picked out, hanging on a hanger on the door. Contrary to Itachi's request for skirt and tank, she'd opted for something that had been tossed in the back of her closet for a short forever: her little black dress. It had been a birthday present for her last year from one of her father's work colleagues, and her father had, consequently, never let her wear it, even in the house. She, actually, rather liked it; it was simple and sexy, with spaghetti straps and slits running high up her thighs.
She picked the dressed off the hook and examined it. If he doesn't like this, something is seriously wrong with him, she thought, tossing it over her shoulder.
When she left the bathroom to go change in the closet and look for some shoes, she nearly jumped out of her skin, falling backwards on her butt. "Holy crap!"
Itachi smirked at her where he was sitting on her bed. "Hello, love, did I scare you?" The man was iced out, complete with jacket, untucked button-down shirt and loose tie. She didn't feel weird anymore about choosing the dress.
Shizuka got up, holding her heart. "Don't... do that!" she hissed.
He gave her the obedient puppy look again. "I'm sorry, love, am I too early?"
"Only by a lot," she snapped, going in her closet. "Stay right there and don't you dare come in here," she ordered before closing the door. Jeez... He's gonna give me a heart attack one of these days, she thought angrily, slipping out of her bathrobe and pulling on the black dress. If he keeps sneaking up on me, I'm making it so he'll never have children... Ever. Thinking of wonderful, abusive thoughts, she zipped up the back and looked for shoes. She found an untouched box with 'Gucci' on it. These stupid heels... I haven't worn these in... ever. She took the tiny little strap-like things out of the box and put them on. And now I remember why, she thought as she fell over almost at once.
She took a few walks around her closet, getting used to the heels and listening to the 'clacking,' then quickly sprayed some perfume over herself (why is the perfume in the closet?) and opened the door. "I'm ready to go," she informed Itachi.
He looked up from where he was sitting on her pillow, looking at her pictures. "That's not a skirt and tank top," he said bluntly.
"You're not going to tell me what to wear," she countered, glaring. "I wear what I want."
He smirked slightly, getting off her bed. "I see. It's a good thing that dress looks sexy, or I'd change your clothes myself."
She scowled. "You touch me in any perverted manner, and I will rip out your testicles and broil them in garlic sauce and feed them to you."
He rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah." He went over to the window. "After you." He gave her another smirk as she walked past him huffily, climbing carefully out the window in her dress.
(English)
"We have some new students with us, class," Iruka said calmly, standing by his desk so he could have the attention of everyone in the room. "They're foreign exchange students, so let's make them feel welcome, alright?" He sent a few death glares to select students (A.K.A.: Kiba and Naruto).
"Hai!" they chorused. (They equaled only to the freshmen… Neji was too quiet and Ukon was asleep… again)
"Alright, then." Iruka turned to the two new students. "This is Sabaku Gaara and Sabaku Temari. Brother and sister."
All eyes turned to the two siblings. They didn't really look like they were related. The boy, Gaara, had shaggy red hair and pale green eyes surrounded by dark circles, probably either make-up or lack of sleep. The girl, Temari, had blond hair pulled into not one, but four ponytails, and smirking green eyes. They said nothing as Iruka directed them to their seats in the second-to-last row, then continued with the lesson.
Sakura glanced at the two new kids, who were each barely within five feet of her. They both looked rather mean and formidable. But, then again, she'd thought Shizuka was formidable, too, and look where that landed her.
She jumped slightly when Kimimaro dropped a note in her lap. She raised an eyebrow and glanced at Ukon, but saw he was still asleep. Kimimaro passing me a note…? Dang, he must be really lonely… She opened the note.
Why aren't you and Ukon speaking to one another?
She smiled a little. So young, and yet, so formal. She wrote back, We had a little disagreement this morning and I guess he's still mad at me.
Kimimaro nodded his understanding of this answer and wrote back quickly.
What did you disagree about?
Sakura paused as she read his response. She was a little unsure about talking about her emotions and 'girl problems' with a guy… especially one who never spoke. She wrote back, explaining this (leaving out the 'silent guy' part).
He just nodded again and wrote back.
Shizuka tells me her problems all the time. Sometimes I advice her, but I normally just listen. Apparently, I'm a good listener. And you don't have to worry about me telling anyone. I know what a secret is.
She smiled at his response. Aw… he's so nice! No wonder Shizuka doesn't mind him being around all the time! She wrote back and told him everything that was bothering her, from her argument with Ukon, to her problems with her mom, to her worries about school, to her worries about Shizuka and Itachi, to her pity for Neji because Shizuka didn't like him, to the fact that she was sure that she was going to get her period any day now.
Kimimaro's expression didn't change as he read through her response (which took up half a page). Then, he wrote back a response almost as long (actually, it probably would have been as long, but his hand-writing was tiny).
As to your worries about Itachi and Shizuka, don't. Shizuka has never been one to let a man take advantage of her, and she knows how to take care of herself. Orochimaru-sama just doesn't understand that. However, I do agree with your match-up of Hyuuga Neji and Shizuka. He seems like a very nice, normal guy, and I will personally help you to get them together. Now… Ukon and your mother. As far as I'm aware, Ukon does not 'go for' thirty-year-old women. I'm sure that what he said was true and that he was simply looking for a likeness between you and your mother. I think you should trust him on that. As for your mother, I'm sure she was just worried about you. Good mothers worry about their children. I'm sure it was rather traumatizing for your mother to see her only daughter come home with two eighteen-year-olds in tow. You should respect your mother's wishes and at least tell her what she wants to know, and tell the truth. Otherwise, she won't trust you, and won't let you go anywhere.
Sakura read his response with an open mouth.
And how old are you, again?
I turn fifteen next week.
Oh. Boy, you are too young to be talking like you're fifty.
He smirked at her.
Just because I happen to be intelligent and you're not doesn't mean you should feel inferior.
Sakura's jaw dropped at his response.
Excuse me!
Was my hand-writing unclear? This is from Ukon.
Sakura looked at the piece of paper folded with Kimimaro's note. She opened it hesitantly.
Nice ribbon.
She flushed a little, remembering that she was wearing the ribbon that had been around the flower Ukon had wanted to give her. But, she decided to be a little sneaky with her answer. Incorporate a 'thank-you' and a 'nyah-nyah' in the same response.
You like it? It went so well with my hair.
Ukon gave her a look of disgust (more at the fact that she was talking hair accessories then anything else) and wrote back.
Whatever.
Sakura rolled her eyes at his response. This guy was so not a conversationalist. She looked at Kimimaro's response, as well.
Ask him to forgive you for jumping to conclusions. He's not going to be friendly unless you do.
Sakura raised an eyebrow at Kimimaro before writing back.
How do you know?
Sakura, I have been living with him for fourteen years. I think I know how he works by now.
Her jaw dropped. (Fourteen years!) She sighed and reopened Ukon's note and went about apologizing. After all, she had made him a bento box again, and she really didn't want it to go to waste.
I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions about you and my mom, I promise never to do it again and I really like my flower. Ok?
Kimimaro gave her a satisfied look as he passed the note to Ukon. (Yeah, he read over her shoulder)
Ukon's jaw dropped in shock when he read her apology.
However, his response was sarcastic and evil.
Yeah, you should be. I wasn't even going to give you the damn thing, but Shizuka kept sending me text messages saying that, if I didn't, I would experience excruciating pain when I got home.
Is saying "you're welcome" and "I forgive you" too much for you? And maybe a little sorry here and there?
What have I got to apologize for? You're the one who was being a PMS'ing bitch.
Sakura scowled at his response. Kimimaro just rolled his eyes and went back to doing the class work, which Sakura had apparently forgotten all about.
Then I suppose you won't mind if I give the lunch I made for you to Sasuke-kun?
...You made me another lunch?
Yes, I did! But if you're going to keep on being mean to me, I'll just give it to Sasuke-kun. I'm sure you won't mind.
Fine, give it to him. I don't want your stupid pink food.
Sakura rolled her eyes, putting the note in her pencil case, deciding firmly that that conversation was over.
(Meanwhile)
Shizuka yawned into her hand, looking at a jewelry display. Itachi lingered nearby, waiting for her to make her decision. He had explained when they entered the mall that she could have anything she wanted, so long as it wasn't tacky. Itachi was already carrying several large bags of purchases from clothes stores and whatnot. Shizuka, on the other hand, carried a small bag containing a small bag from Shard's Jewelers.
"I want that one." She pointed to a silver ring with a carved onyx stone in it and small diamonds on either side.
"There's a matching necklace that'll go with the black dress you just bought." Itachi pointed to a small onyx pendant hanging on a silver chain.
Shizuka shrugged. "It's your credit card."
"Hey, old man," Itachi called to the shop owner. "We'll take the onyx set."
"Are you sure?" the shop owner asked, coming over with his set of keys. "All together, it's 2000."
"Bag it," Itachi bragged. Because his hands were full, he turned his back to Shizuka and said, "Get my card, love."
Shizuka got his wallet out of his back pocket and took one of the credit cards out and gave it to the shop owner. Two minutes later found Shizuka carrying two jewelry bags and a happy little smile.
"Thank you, sempai," she said sweetly, giving him her suck-up smile and putting her hands behind her back.
"Oh, it's 'sempai' now, is it?" He smirked. (sempai: older classmate)
"It's true, isn't it?" Shizuka rolled her eyes as her cell phone beeped, showing she had a new text message. She took it out of Itachi's coat pocket and looked at it. "Kimimaro. 'Tell yourimmature friends to grow up and stop arguing.' …I thought I told Ukon that like, two hours ago."
Itachi shrugged. "Your little Ukon friend doesn't strike me as the most mature person alive."
"You're only saying that because he shot you."
"Why, yes, yes, I am. What of it?"
She just rolled her eyes and replaced her phone in his pocket, walking off to Hot Topic to max out some more credit cards.
(English/Lunch)
Sakura got out her lunch and the lunch she'd made for Ukon. Ripping off the patterned paper around the chopsticks bearing the senior's name, she turned to Sasuke. "Sasuke-kun, do you want this lunch?" she asked sweetly. "It was for someone else but they don't want it."
Kimimaro tossed Ukon a glare. Ukon glared back and rested his head on his crossed arms, looking pissed. At what, they couldn't be sure.
Sasuke shrugged and took the bento box and unwrapped it, breaking apart his chopsticks. "Arigatou," he said quietly before beginning to eat.
Sakura smiled brightly at him before beginning to eat her own box.
"Where's Shizuka?" Neji asked, raising an eyebrow as he came over with his stuff. He gestured to the empty space between Ukon and Kimimaro.
"Home sick," Kimimaro answered, stealing one of the fried shrimp out of Sakura's bento box.
Sasuke looked up. "She is?"
Sakura nodded. "She had a really nasty cough earlier. It sounded like her head was gonna come off."
"Hn," Sasuke muttered, before going back to his lunch.
"Is it good, Sasuke-kun?"
"Aa. Did you make this?"
Sakura nodded, smiling brightly. "I'm glad you like it!"
"Otaki."
They looked up when they heard the sneering voice. The new girl, Temari, was smirking down at Ukon. Ukon looked up at her blankly. "What?"
"Yamiko asked me to give this to you, if I saw you," she explained, giving him a folded piece of paper.
He looked at it, but didn't take it. "She's here, too?"
"Mm-hmm." Temari dropped the note in his hand before she stalked back to where her brother was sitting by himself.
Kimimaro looked at the note. "So."
"I figured she'd be here, too," Ukon said with a shrug, tucking the note in his front pocket.
"Who's Yamiko?" Neji asked curiously while Kimimaro ate part of his peanut butter and jelly sandwich. "You can have that, I don't like peanut butter," he added to Kimimaro, who shrugged, totally shameless about eating other people's food.
"Just someone I used to know," Ukon said casually before putting his head in his arms again. "Gah-roan."
Sakura tossed Ukon a suspicious look as she continued with her lunch. "Hey, Neji," she said after a few moments of long silence. He looked up. "We're getting Shizuka some get-well flowers from Ino's shop after school."
"We are?" Kimimaro raised an eyebrow at her.
Kick.
"Oh, yeah, we are." He nodded.
Neji raised an eyebrow.
"So, do you want to come with us and get her a flower or two or twelve?" Sakura asked the black-haired Hyuuga, popping a finger-sandwich in her mouth.
Neji rolled his eyes. "She doesn't strike me as the kind to like flowers."
"All girls like flowers," Sakura corrected.
Neji scoffed. "Fine, I'll go. But if she burns them, don't complain."
"She won't," Sakura argued, going back to her lunch.
(Gym)
Sakura yawned a little, sitting in the gym while she waited for Ino and Hinata to be finished changing. It was going to be rather quiet today, without Shizuka there. But oh well.
"Sakura." Kimimaro gave her a small smile as he approached her.
She returned it, patting the space on the hard floor next to her. Poor guy, she thought as he sat down next to her. He really must be lonely… I don't mind or anything, but still…
"I suppose you and Ukon didn't exactly resolve your argument," Kimimaro said with the same small smile.
She shook her head, frowning as she clasped her knees to her chest with her arms. "No, and I don't care if we don't. He's a big jerk."
"I see. Then you don't mind that his old girlfriend is in town and is currently flirting with him?"
"What?" Sakura looked around. Sure enough, there was a girl standing next to Ukon where he was sitting on the bleachers. She had long, wavy brown hair, and large brown eyes with long, dark eyelashes which she batted at him fervently as she spoke, hands behind her back, smiling sweetly. At one point, she reached over and stroked his hair, probably commenting on it's length. Ukon didn't say anything in response, but Sakura saw him flinch before she touched him, like he did with everyone. "That's his ex-girlfriend?"
Kimimaro nodded. "She's Yamiko. They went out for about a year before she broke up with him before we moved. He never told us why, but he was pretty depressed about it for a while."
"And now I'm guessing she wants him back?" Sakura asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Basically."
"Hmph." Sakura looked away from the scene. "Let her. I don't care."
Kimimaro just raised his eyebrow at her. Changing the subject, he asked, "What was that in the note about a flower?"
"I knew you read over my shoulder." She gave him a mock glare. "I told you, he wanted to give me a flower and—"
"And you thought it was for your mom. I remember. Can I see the note?"
Sakura pulled it out of her gym short's pocket (I hate the traditional Japanese gym shorts… they look like underwear… These shorts are like American shorts) and gave it to him.
"Hmm." Kimimaro read the short message. "You don't know what this means, do you?" He gestured to the German phrase at the bottom.
She shook her head. "I was going to find an online translator after school."
"I have one on my hand-held." Kimimaro stood up and went over to the bleachers where everyone had put there book bags. He came back with the device. "Ok…" He entered the phrase. "'Ich denke, dass ich Sie liebe' means… 'I think that I'—" His eyes widened as the screen on his hand-held went black. "No… Damn batteries." He sighed. "Sorry."
She shrugged, smiling. "It's ok. At least we know what most of it means."
"I know that 'sie' means 'you,' but I'm not sure about 'liebe,'" Kimimaro admitted. "I only have the translator because he used to shout German phrases at us after he started teaching himself the language."
"So he actually does speak German?" I thought he was kidding…
"Unfortunately, yes." Kimimaro sighed. "I only know a few phrases, though. You tend to pick up the meaning."
"What do you know?" she asked curiously.
"Sie haben schöne Augen."
"What?" She raised an eyebrow.
"I said, you have beautiful eyes."
Sakura flushed slightly.
Flashback
"Does she have green eyes like you?"
Sakura nodded.
"Then she probably is pretty," Ukon said casually.
End flashback
Why am I thinking about that? "So, what, does this mean you like me?" she asked coyly, smirking at him.
Kimimaro's eyes widened and he quickly looked away. "N-No… I like someone else…" he said shyly.
Sakura raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really?"
He nodded.
"Who's the lucky girl?"
"Um… Yamanaka Ino…"
Sakura's jaw dropped. "Ino-pig!"
Kimimaro flinched, blushing all kinds of pretty pink as he starred at a spot on the floor. "But… it doesn't matter, because she likes Sasuke."
"Aw…" She patted him on the shoulder, regretting making him feel bad. "It's ok…" She smiled at him. "If you told Ino that whole 'see ha-been scone oo-gen' thing you just told me, I'm sure you'll be fine."
He looked at her hopefully. "Really?"
Sakura nodded, smiling. "Sure! But you better explain what it means, or she'll just stare at you." (He seriously does like Ino-pig! Inner-Sakura cried)
Kimimaro returned the smile. "Vielen dank," he said as Jiraiya called the class to attention.
"What's that mean?" she asked as he got up.
"You figure it out," he answered, extending a hand to help her up.
Today, the class was playing kickball. The teams went as follows:
Team One:
Neji
Sasuke
Tayuya
Sakura
Kiba
Kidoumaru
Lee
Ukon
Sakkon
Jiroubou
Shino
Team Two:
Ino
Naruto
Hinata
Chouji
Shikamaru
TenTen
Gaara
Temari
Kimimaro
Kankurou
Yamiko
"Ok! I'll be pitching, so look sharp, alright? Team Two is up first!" Jiraiya called, picking up a red bouncy ball. "Team One, out on the field."
"I'll be our catcher," Ukon offered.
Sakura, the team captain, said nothing, turning to the rest of the team. "Claim a base or position on the field, ok? I really, really don't want to lose."
Neji scoffed as he and Lee headed to the out field. "Like we could," he told his friend.
"Of course! Youthful energy is the most fervent example of life!"
"…No, Lee. I meant, some idiot had the lack of brain cells to put all of Shizuka's friends on one team. There's no way we can lose." At Lee's depressed look, he added, "But youthful energy is still awesome."
Kankurou (a boy who looked like he was far too obsessed with face paint) was first up. Sakura, however, wasn't paying attention to him; she was too busy watching Kimimaro approach Ino, who was talking to Hinata and Chouji, over where Team Two was lining up at bat. Kimimaro tapped the blonde on the shoulder lightly, and, when he had her attention, mumbled something. Ino had a 'duh…wha?' look on her face, until Kimimaro mumbled something else, then she frowned at him, which caused poor Kimimaro to blush and run away. Sakura groaned, realizing her mistake: Ino didn't trust Shizuka or her friends; Sakura had sent Kimimaro to the lion's den when she told him that complimenting Ino would be alright. Poor Kimi-kun, she thought sadly, then went back to concentrating on the game… in time to see a ball fly past her head.
"Sakura!" Ukon shouted as Kankurou ran past her. "What the hell are you doing!"
Sakura just glared at him as Kankurou claimed second base. Baka Ukon…
Sakura felt something irk when Yamiko sauntered up to take her turn. She turned to smile sweetly at Ukon and said something before Jiraiya tossed her the ball. Yamiko gave the ball a tiny little kick, then turned to giggle at Ukon before skipping off to first base. Ukon quickly snatched up the ball and threw it to Sakura, who was sure to pay attention this time.
Yamiko actually whined a little when she got tagged out, but Sakura ignored her, sending Ukon another glare as the older girl wailed at him for "making her get tagged." I can't believe he actually goes for this kind of whiny girl, Sakura thought in disbelief as Kimimaro took his turn.
(Meanwhile)
Itachi and Shizuka sat in Itachi's car, eating some take-out. Itachi had offered to take her to another restaurant, but she'd declined, deciding she'd had quite enough of pampering to last her for a while. Plus, she'd had enough of fancy restaurants at her dad's dinner parties.
Shizuka frowned down at her burger, thinking. Something was bothering her… "Itachi," she said, after a few moments' thought.
"Yes, love?"
"Are you and Uchiha Sasuke related?" she asked curiously, voicing the eternal question.
"My baby brother," he said calmly.
Shizuka starred. "Really?"
"Aye." He looked at her. "You know him?"
"He's in a few of my classes," she explained.
"You have my pity," he said, patting her on the head. She swatted his hand away.
"Actually," she said casually, looking out the window, "Sasuke's not that bad."
He starred at her. "Eh?"
"He's pretty cool."
"Eh?"
"And hot."
"Eh!"
"And he's my age, too."
"Eh!"
"I might just ask him out next time I see him."
"EH!"
"I'm kidding."
"Don't kid like that, woman," he ordered, going back to his Big Mac.
"I have a name, you know!" she snapped.
"Yes, but I like calling you 'love' better."
(Still Gym)
Needless to say, Team One won the game. Why? Because Yamiko was a great handicap. Half the time she was at bat, she spent giggling at Ukon. And when she actually played, she didn't kick the ball hard enough, or ran away from it when it came at her, shrieking like it was a snake.
Sakura scowled at the older girl while they waited for the bell to ring. Once again, Yamiko was standing next to Ukon, flirting like no tomorrow.
Sakura had pin-pointed exactly what she'd been feeling lately when she had seen Yamiko glomp Ukon: Sakura was jealous. Yes, very, very jealous. Before Yamiko had come to the school, Sakura had been one of three girls that Ukon would actually acknowledge. Now, here was this evil bee-yotch stealing all his time and space.
She looked up when Kimimaro crept over to her side, looking soulless and utterly crushed. "I'm sorry, Kimimaro…"
He looked up at her blandly, then sighed, starring at the floor again. "I should have known she would react like that… I'm just not Sasuke…"
Sakura chose not to argue with this solid logic, so she just comforted. "It's ok… Well, no it's not… but it's her fault for not seeing that you're such a cool guy."
He looked up at her again. "You think so?"
She nodded firmly. "I know so."
He managed a small smile. "Vielen dank, Sakura."
"Does that mean 'thank you'?"
He nodded, smiling lightly as a thought crossed Sakura's mind: Shizuka was the only person Kimimaro knew from his next class besides Neji and Sasuke—there would be no one to keep him company! She knew he wouldn't linger around Sasuke, because of Ino, and that left Neji… Hm. "Wait here," she told Kimimaro before going over to where Neji was talking to Lee and Ukon (who had Yamiko hanging off his neck). Ignoring the other two, she asked Neji, "Will you keep Kimimaro company next class?"
He raised an eyebrow at her. "What?"
"Just, like, let him sit with you, ok?" Sakura begged. "He won't bother you. He's really lonely without Shizuka being here."
"I'll bet," Ukon said. (He was ignored)
"Will you? Please?" Sakura clasped her hands before her face, looking up at Neji with a pleading face.
Before Neji would answer, however, Yamiko leaned over Ukon's shoulder to get a better look at Sakura. "Who are you?" the brown-haired girl asked, frowning.
"Girlfriend." Lee patted her shoulder.
Sakura punched him. "I'm Neji's friend," she answered. Then, she offered a prize-winning fake smile as she reached into her pocket, pulling out a pink hair ribbon. "Do you want this?" she asked Yamiko, holding it out. "It would look cute."
Ukon starred at the ribbon as it exchanged hands, then starred at Sakura's back as she went over to Kimimaro again.
"That was immature, Sakura," Kimimaro gently rebuked. "See, look, he's starring at you now."
Sakura gave Kimimaro an evil smirk. "This means war. That bitch is goin' down."
"He's still looking at you."
Sakura turned and, sure enough, Ukon was starring at her like she'd grown two heads. She gave him a sweet little wave which ended in a violent hand-motion, causing him to turn away. She turned to Kimimaro, smirking in a way that made his flesh crawl. "I have a plan."
Kimimaro smiled, but, on the inside, he thought desperately, Please don't let this involve me…
He was not that lucky.
Please no flamies for Kimimaro and Ino! Or Yamiko... She was the O.C. for A Night To Remember... Go read it if you're unsure.
Okie dokie, review answers! (Kenshin grin) I'm so happy! This fic gets so many reviews, I feel like a kid at Christmas!
Tell you what: after I pass the 100-review mark (if I ever do) I'll stop begging for reviews, ok?
RedLotusNin and IceHunterNin: Yeah I already knew all that stuff about Kankurou. If you go on Google and search his name, you'll kind a bunch of pictures of the original Kankurou and his puppet, Karasu. I didn't know the bit about Naruto's Sexy No Jutsu, tho! Lol, ty for telling me! (Kenshin grin)
Dragonman180: Lol, Shizuka's car lights. Funny! I have a picture of a chibi Orochimaru, it was a fan art drawn by some dude in Canada or whatever. Lol. I love cute little baby pictures like that! It's kawaii! Dude, you know what, I think you're my only guy-reviewer… Weird. Oh well, you never know; some of these 'other people' might be guys, and I just don't know it. Lol.
HinatasBiggestFanBoy: I was incredibly high on sugar when I wrote that. Lol. I wanted to see how many people I could scare. (Apparently, a lot) I'm glad you liked it! Your reviews are funny! Thank you!
Rose: Is this one long enough? It was roughly 22 pages when I wrote it… (shifty eyes) Please don't hurt me!
Lily the best: Lol, I just e-mailed you before writing these responses. I'm glad you like it!
AznNarutoGrl-91: Yeah, if you read books about the Middle Ages and whatnot, they talk about bastards being fatherless children. I read King Arthur books religiously, so I have all this useless information stored up here and there. Lol.
AlphaC: Now I feel pressured to make sure I make this good for the non-high-school-fic-reader… (shifty eyes) I hope you like it, though!
Kie-san: I like writing long chapters now because… well… I have more to write about, don't I? Plus, I hate it when you have to wait a short forever for a chapter, and then it's short as crap. That just sucks. Lol, Shizuka's just a hyperactive, loud, spoiled, lazy brat… but she's so lovable! Lol why I am saying about my own personality… I'm the exact opposite of lovable… I have more people who hate me then those who like me. Lol, oh well.
Riiight: I updated REALLY fast. Lol, sorry it took so long. But… I didn't get the comment about "get back on Shizuka next chapter"… What'chu talkin' 'bout, Willis?
Kyuubi: GET IN MY BELLA!
