Crimson Love

(deep breaths) Ahh… lovin' that 'new chapter' smell… It is SO good to be back, that it is! That was a nice vacation for me! I got the first chapter of my manga scanned while I was taking a break. I should have it posted in the not-so-near future on a website that my step dad is making for me.

P.S.: My mom got married on Monday! Kudos to her!

P.P.S.: Please do not skip over large paragraphs! They hold important information!


Chapter Fifteen: Raindrops and Petals

"What happened, Sakkon?" Shizuka demanded from the backseat, glaring at the older teen, once they were in the car,

"H-He was coming to get you guys," Sakkon mumbled, his eyes fixated on the road, "but the roads were too slippery a-and he skidded into another car that was speeding."

"Well, is he ok?" she demanded.

Sakkon didn't answer.

"Sakkon! Is he ok?"

"…You'll have to wait until we get there."

Shizuka made an exasperated noise, turning to glare out the window.

Sakura turned to give Sakkon a small, strained, comforting smile. "I-It'll be ok, Sakkon… don't worry…"

He didn't look at her, his eyes blocked from her view by his hair. "…Yeah."

(Konoha General Hospital)

Sakura gave a quick glance around the waiting room outside the room the nurse said Ukon was in. The room just screamed "depression". Tayuya and Kidoumaru were standing by the window, faces set. Jiroubou had somehow crammed himself into one of the chairs and was starring at the floor. Orochimaru was talking to one of the nurses. His assistant, Kabuto, was sitting a few seats down from Jiroubou.

…Someone was missing.

"Where's Kimimaro?" Shizuka demanded of Sakkon before Sakura could speak.

Before Sakkon could answer, Orochimaru caught sight of them and came over. "Shizuka-chan, w—"

"Where's Kimimaro?" she demanded loudly.

"Shizuka-chan—"

"Where is he!" she shouted, her voice cracking slightly.

Orochimaru's expression shifted slightly. "Come with me," he said, leading them into the room.

Sakura's eyes widened when she stepped in the room Orochimaru was leading them to. Her heart beat wildly in her chest when her eyes fell on Ukon, a feeling of dread filling her. He didn't even have the ability to breathe for himself, apparently, because of the respirator attached to his mouth. Little breaths clouded the mouth piece as his chest heaved up and down slowly. There were wires attached to his arm and chest, attached to a screen next to his bed, the green line on the screen jumping every so often to monitor his heart rate. There was a bag of blood and IV fluid flowing through a tube attached to his wrist. His side and chest were heavily bandaged, as was one of his arms. His long, lavender hair was feathered across the pillow, and his tired eyes were closed. It was so obviously Ukon, but, for a split second, Sakura didn't see Ukon. For a split second, she saw a much older man, with brown hair and light green eyes under the closed eyelids, and, for a split second, her mind flashed back to that night, so many years ago, when she'd stood next to a hospital bed just like this one, her tiny little hands clinging to the cold hand of the person in the bed.

Sakura was ripped out of the mental image and into the real world again by Shizuka, as the latter sobbed, "Kimimaro!" and ran to the other bed, across from Ukon's. Sakura turned, eyes still wide, to look at the other bed. Kimimaro's eyes were open, but he had an IV attached to his arm, as well as a bandage over one eye, and one shoulder. He seemed pretty alright, compared to Ukon, but what really shocked Sakura, and everyone else in the room, was Shizuka, as she threw herself over him, tears pouring down her cheeks as she sobbed, raggedly and loudly, over Kimimaro.

"I thought you died!" she sobbed, throwing her arms around his neck. "No one told me where you were! I thought you died!" She paused, sitting back slightly, giving him a good whack over the head. "Don't you ever scare me like that again!"

"Shizuka-chan, don't—" Orochimaru began, but was cut off by a fresh bout of tears from Shizuka.

"I'm never letting you out of my sight again!" she sobbed as her brother petted her head gently. "I thought you died!" she repeated, crawling up to curl up next to him on the bed while she cried.

Sakura turned back to Ukon, walking slowly over to his bedside. She reached out, touching his hand; it was ice-cold under her fingers. She picked it up, blowing on it gently and rubbing it in an effort to warm it up. When he didn't react, she felt her throat choke up, but she chewed her lip, keeping her tears at bay as Sakkon came over to stand next to her, a silent hand coming to rest around her shoulders. She gulped at the familiarity of it, ducking her head so he couldn't see the tears clouding up her eyes.

Memories.

Memories of Ukon; Ukon glaring at her the day she first went over Shizuka's house, Ukon telling her not to make Sasuke's food pink, Ukon explaining to her about his promise to his mother, Ukon telling her not to worry about him, Ukon passing her notes, Ukon saying that flowers were stupid, Ukon singing "Feel Like A Woman" with her, Ukon head-banging, Ukon asking her out for the first time, Ukon teaching her to ice-skate, Ukon chugging java in an effort to stay awake, Ukon pulling Sakkon into a headlock, Ukon slurping ramen, Ukon smiling at her, Ukon laughing at her, Ukon running away from Yamiko, Ukon sleeping in the middle of his floor, Ukon accidentally walking in on her in the shower, Ukon telling her he loved her, Ukon hugging her, Ukon ordering at Burger King, Ukon hurt, Ukon kissing her, Ukon demanding that his baby pictures be burned, Ukon being… Ukon.

Sakura closed her eyes, pressing Ukon's hand against her cheek. Please don't die…

(Flashback)

"Mommy, where's Daddy?"

"…Daddy's gone, honey."

"Gone? Gone where?"

"Just… gone…"

"He can't be gone! Daddy says he has a lot of work to do! He has 'respons-ee-bilities'!"

"…I know, honey… but—"

"Make Daddy come home now!"

"…I can't."

"Why not?"

"…I just can't, honey."

(End flashback)

"He'll be ok," Sakkon said softly, so only Sakura could hear, pulling her out of her memories. "He's tough."

Sakura nodded, making a small noise of agreement. She caught snippets of Shizuka's and Kimimaro's conversation across the room while she stroked Ukon's face gently with her free hand.

"No way am I leaving you alone, Kimimaro!"

"You have to go cheer Neji on, he has a game today and he's probably depressed now and won't be able to play to his full potential unless you cheer him on."

"But—"

"Go ahead, Shizuka-sama," Tayuya coaxed, coming in with Kidoumaru. "We'll take care of Kimimaro."

"…" Shizuka looked at Tayuya for a few moments, then turned to Kimimaro again. "I'm not leaving you alone again!"

"Hey!" Tayuya snapped, a temper vein appearing over her forehead.

"Come on, I'll drive you," Kidoumaru said before Tayuya could strangle Shizuka, pulling the latter off of Kimimaro's bed.

"Ok, fine," she said with a sigh. "Call me if anything happens," she ordered Kimimaro before walking out with Kidoumaru.

A nurse crossed them in the doorway; she crossed over to Ukon's bed, holding a needle full of some clear fluid.

"What's that?" Sakkon asked protectively.

"Medicine, to help stabilize him," she answered, giving the younger twin a small smile and she inserted the needle in one of the IV plugs attached to Ukon's arm. "There." She smiled at them again. "He should be alright in a little bit. Why don't you two go get some rest? It's very ear—"

"No," Sakura said stubbornly, shaking her head. "I'm not leaving him alone."

"What she said," Sakkon said to the nurse.

She sighed, as if she were going against her better judgment. "Alright. Tell one of the nurses outside if he wakes up."

"Wait a second!" Sakkon said angrily, pulling her back. "Tell us how he is!"

The nurse looked at them. "Are you his family?"

"I'm his brother, and she's his girlfriend," Sakkon answered, crossing his arms.

The nurse sighed, taking out a clipboard. "His has a concussion, and his left arm is broken. He has a few minor burns on his chest and shoulder, and he has a few shallow scrapes here and there."

"W… Will he be ok?" Sakkon stammered, after a few moments of stunned silence.

"The medicine I just gave him should help to stabilize him. He's in no danger of dying right now, but it all depends on how soon he is stabilized." The nurse gave them a small smile. "I suggest you not worry about him that much. We'll make sure he heals." Patting Sakkon on the shoulder, she gave them another smile before leaving.

Sakkon got two chairs from the waiting room and set them close to Ukon's bed, one for Sakura and one for himself. Sakura sat down, though she still held Ukon's hand; Sakkon sat down in the other chair, resting his arms on the bed and starring intently at his older brother.

Tayuya left a few minutes later with Orochimaru to go get something to eat. The only other person in the room was Kimimaro, and he had his headphones on and his eyes closed. After a long period of silence, where the only sound was the beeping of the monitor, Sakkon spoke.

"You can go home if you want. I'll stay with him."

Sakura shook her head again. "No."

He turned his head to look at her. "Why not?"

"Because," she said firmly, "I want to make sure he's ok."

"The nurse sa—"

"I want to make sure for myself," she insisted. "I have to be sure."

He remained silent, waiting for her to clarify.

"I… I don't want to see someone else die," she said quietly, passing her fingers over the old burns on Ukon's palm. "…Especially not him."

There was another long silence, before Sakkon spoke again. "I hated you…"

"Huh?" She turned to stare at him; he was starring across Ukon's bed, not looking at her, his head rested on the cross of his arms.

"He was always my best friend..." he continued; she didn't need to ask who he was talking about. "Ever since our parents died, we've always been there for each other… and that was it… Even when he met Yamiko, I always still always first."

Sakura starred at him. Why is he telling me this…?

He sent her a short glare. "Then he met you… and it was like I was just second in his book. I hated that. I wanted him to be happy, but him being happy meant I wasn't happy."

Sakura shook her head. "That's not true! You're not second! There is no 'first' or 'second', he loves us both!"

"Then why does he tell you about the nightmares and the cutting and the abuse?" Sakkon asked coldly.

She faltered. "Y… You knew…?"

He scoffed. "I'm not stupid, I knew something was going on. I'm his twin, remember? I know him better then anyone."

"He… He didn't want you to know…"

"I know. That's why I didn't say anything." Sakkon glared at her again. "But it pisses me off that he would trust you more then me, his brother."

"It's not th—" Sakura stopped, just now realizing he'd said "hated" not "hate". "Then… why don't you hate me now?"

His glare softened into a small smile. "Because we both care so much about the same thing."

(Meanwhile)

"Have Neji's parents drive you home, ok?" Kidoumaru said as Shizuka shut the car door behind her. "I'm going to go back to check on Kimimaro and Ukon. See you."

"See you," she said, waving over her shoulder as she turned to the sports center.

It was only then that she realized she had absolutely no idea where she was going.

"Ah, man, I'm never gonna find the right place in this—"

"Huh? Shizuka?"

Shizuka stopped pulling at her hair and looking aggravated to turn and look over her shoulder. Neji gave her an odd, surprised look as he stepped out of his uncle's Cadillac, shouldering a sports bag and wearing a red soccer jersey and long black sports pants. He was shortly followed by Hanabi, who, upon taking in the situation and the look on her cousin's face, took it upon herself to break the temporary silence.

"NEJI-NII-SAN'S GIRLFRIEND CAME TO CHEER HIM ON!"

TWHACK.

Oops… reflex. "You did?" He raised an eyebrow at Shizuka. "I thought you were going to see Kimimaro and Ukon with Sakura."

She smiled brightly at him. "I did. They're ok for now, so I decided to come watch you play."

Neji's look of confusion turned into a broad grin. He started to say something, but was cut off by his mother. (ALL HAIL NEJI'S MOM!)

"Ohh, you're that cute little girl Neji honey likes so much, aren't you?" Neji's Mom asked curiously, appearing over her son's shoulder.

Shizuka and Neji both blushed, and started to deny it, but stopped when they remembered their little "outburst" of the night before.

"Yes, Mom, now can you please shut up about it?" Neji asked huffily, stalking towards the building where his game was being held.

Shizuka grinned at Neji's mom behind his back and mouthed "He told me!" before going to fall into step next to Neji and slipping her hand into his.

Neji: BLUSH! (sweat-sweat)

"S-So do you understand the game?" Neji asked, by way of conversation, careful to look everywhere but at Shizuka and where their hands were joined.

"Sure!" She smiled.

(A few minutes later)

"So…" Shizuka said slowly, watching the black and white checkered ball being kicked around, "they score points… by kicking the ball into the fishnet stuff?"

Neji's mom nodded. "Yep. GO NEJI! GREAT SAVE!"

"…And it's Neji's job to make sure the other team doesn't kick the ball into our fishnet?"

"Yep. You catch on fast! ALRIGHT, YASUKE, GREAT PASS!"

"Why don't they just pick the ball up and run with it?" Shizuka asked, assuming an "anime-stupid" face (A.K.A.: SNG's Manga's main character's normal expression).

"Because that would be too easy! This isn't football! ALRIGHT, AOSHI!"

"Then why does Neji use his hands?" Shizuka asked as aforesaid Hyuuga snatched up the ball as it neared his net and lobbed it to one of his team mates.

"ALRIGHT, NEJI! GOOD ARM! Because he's the goalie. But he can't use his hands if he's out of the goalie box."

"…The what?"

"Ok, you see that half-circle around the goal?"

"Yeah."

"That's the goalie box, it—"

"It's a circle."

"Huh?"

"If it's a circle, why is it called a box?"

"…Because it just is!" Neji's mom sighed, obviously a little annoyed by all this explaining and whatnot she'd been doing for the past ten minutes. "You don't have to understand the rules, just cheer whenever one of our players kicks the ball in the goal, and if Neji makes a save, ok?"

"…Save?" (This was me the first time I went to one of my sister's soccer games, seriously)

"When he stops the ball from going in our goal!"

"Oh… ok." Shizuka turned to stare at the field, waiting for the ball to get close to Neji. "GO, NEJI!" she shouted when he snatched up the ball before one of the other players could kick it into the net. "That looks dangerous," she told Neji's mom when Neji's head came within inches of being kicked.

The older woman shrugged. "He's broken nearly every bone in his body playing this game. He's ok so far. One time, he broke his leg scrambling for the ball, and he didn't notice and kept playing. You don't need to worry about him."

"…" It just proves my theory that he's too obsessed with soccer.

Poke-poke.

Shizuka turned. "Hi, Gaara! Are you here to watch Neji, too?"

Nod.

"Great, so am I! This is my first time coming here, how many times have you been here?"

He held up seven fingers.

"Wow, you came to every game since the season started?"

Nod.

"Are you going to try out? Neji said something about it."

Nod.

"Cool, I'll come cheer you on, too!"

Small smile.

(After the game)

"Wow that was great!" Shizuka cried, glomping Neji as soon as he came out of the locker room, dressed in clean clothes and showered.

"Um… thanks." He grinned sheepishly, scratching the back of his head as he blushed lightly.

"Go, Neji," Genma said, giving him the "Rock on" sign as he walked past.

"Ack! Shut up, coach!" Neji shouted, throwing a soccer ball that randomly appeared, at his coach.

Neji suddenly notices Gaara behind Shizuka.

"Oh, wait, coach!" Neji physically dragged Gaara (Gaara?) over to where his coach was recovering from his previous assault. "This guy wants to try out soon."

"Oh really?" Genma gave the (puny) redhead a half-smirk, half-grin. "What's your name?"

"His name's Gaara," Neji said at once.

"…How old are you?"

"He's 13, but he'll be 14 in January."

"……How tall are you?"

"He's four foot ten, but he's really fast."

"………Are you any good?"

"Oh yeah, he's real good, we've been practicing together for a while."

"…………What position do you want to play?"

"He's really good at offense, he actually got the ball past me a couple times."

"…I am so glad we had this conversation, Gaara!" Genma said in a voice dripping heavily with sarcasm. "Hope to see you at try-outs!"

Gaara: Small grin.

"We're going out for pizza, Shizuka honey and Gaara dear, do you two want to come?" Neji's mom asked, smiling at them.

"Sure!" Shizuka said, smiling brightly.

(At the random Pizza Parlor)

"Oh my, we certainly have a lot of people with us," Neji's mom said, after doing a head count.

Shizuka shrugged. "It's only eight people. Whenever we go anywhere, we have at least ten."

"Ten?" Neji raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah: me, Kimimaro, Tayuya, Kidoumaru, Sakkon, Ukon, Jiroubou, Daddy, Kabuto-san, and Sakura is usually with us. That's ten all together."

"I'm just surprised you did the math that quickly…"

"Shut up!"

"Are they seriously together?" Hinata's Mom as Neji's Mom.

"…I think so." Neji's mom scratched her chin thoughtfully.

The waiter seated them in the funky cool party room with a nice big round table (Fanciest pizza parlor I ever seen) and left for a few minutes so they could decide on their drinks.

"I'm going to call Kimimaro really quick to see if he's ok," Shizuka said, getting up and taking out her cell phone. "If the waiter person comes back, tell them I want Sprite."

"Ok," Neji said, taking a subconscious mental note while he looked over the menu.

Shizuka went into one of the stalls in the girls' bathroom and took her phone out. It rang a few times before Kimimaro picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Kimi-kun!"

"Hi, Shizuka. How was the game?"

"We won, five to nothing or whatever."

"Wow, that's really good. Did you enjoy yourself?"

"Yeah, it actually looks kind of fun. Well, you know, if you don't mind getting all icky and stuff."

"It's good that you cheered him on. Are you still at the sports center?"

"No, we went out for pizza, all of us. I don't know when I'll be back, but I'll visit you again before we have to go home for bed."

"Alright, I'll tell Orochimaru when I see him. You should go back to your table though, it's rude to keep people waiting when you're not buying."

"Ok. I'll see you later."

"Alright, bye."

When Shizuka got back to the table, the waiter was just leaving. "I ordered you a Sprite like you asked," Neji said with a nice, proud air, pleased that he had remembered.

"Thank you," she said sweetly, as Neji surprised nearly everyone at the table (except Gaara, who, by laws of nature, does not get surprised) by pulling her chair out for her.

"Oh yeah, Hiashi-oji-san, Coach asked if we could have the team party at our house again this year, and I said I'd ask you and tell him tomorrow at school," Neji said, glaring at Hanabi as she snickered at him behind her hand.

"When will it be?"

"This Saturday. But we can have it at Kiba's if you don't want it at our house."

"I guess it would be alright. Just make sure they don't trash the house like last time."

"…That was Lee."

"What's a team party?" Shizuka asked curiously.

"Just when the JV team gets together to hang out. We do it every once and a while," Neji explained, closing his menu. "I'm not sure what I want…"

"Can you and I get the stuffed crust thing and share it?" Shizuka asked, pointing to a picture. "It only comes in large, and I don't think I could eat that much."

Whoa, I seriously thought she was going to get rabbit food or something… "Sure, that's fine." He gave her a grin before turning to Gaara. "What do you want, Gaara?"

"…"

"He wants buffalo wings," Shizuka said confidently.

Neji gave Gaara a look out of the corner of his eye. Gaara pointed to the pan pizza. Thought so… I shouldn't say anything though, he probably wants to scare her later in life.

"So, Shizuka honey, how are you doing in school?" Neji's mom asked.

"Um… report cards come out tomorrow," Shizuka said, looking slightly annoyed. "I probably have a few C's at the most."

"That's not true, you have an A in Kakashi's class," Neji said.

"Only because he doesn't care, and passes everyone."

"…Heh." Who can argue with such sound logic?

"Hanabi, you be sure and bring your report card home and not burn it on the bus like last time, alright?" Hiashi said firmly, closing his menu.

"Ha ha, I tried that once," Shizuka said with a laugh. "Kidoumaru told on me, though. My teachers at my old school sent mine home via snail mail after that."

"Did you get in trouble?" Hanabi asked curiously, turning wide eyes on Shizuka.

"Kind of. I had to do extra work for one of my teachers, and I got kicked off the bus for using arson, so now we get driven by our drivers." Shizuka shrugged.

"What's 'arson'?" Hanabi asked, eyes even wider.

"You don't need to know," every Hyuuga at the table said before Shizuka could answer.

(-oOo-)

Kimimaro was released from the hospital the day after he arrived, because his wounds weren't serious. Ukon, however, had to stay, because of his broken arm and concussion. Every day, Sakura had a schedule to follow: wake up, go to school, go over Shizuka's after school, have Sakkon drive her to the hospital, have dinner at the hospital, come home in time for bed, repeat process. Most people would have cracked and stayed away, but not Sakura. Every day, she went to visit Ukon, in hopes that he would wake up.

"I hate waiting," Sakkon muttered after a week and a half, coming back in the room with four cans of soda. He gave one to Sakura, and one to Kimimaro and Shizuka, who were visiting, as well, that day, and kept the other for himself.

"Believe in modern medicine," Sakura said with a smile, taking the soda. "Besides, you said so yourself, he's tough, right?" She popped open the can, taking a sip as she held Ukon's hand with her free one.

"Yeah, you're right." Sakkon braced his feet against Ukon's bed and tipped it back on its back legs. "I still hate waiting."

"…That's not safe, Sakkon…"

"Huh—AAH!" Sakkon's chair fell backwards, taking him with it. He quickly scrambled up, ignoring the spilled soda on his shirt. "Ukon!"

Sakura whirled around, eyes wide. Ukon blinked up at her tiredly over the respirator. She paused, lower lip trembling, then threw herself at him, sobbing loudly. "Ukon!"

"O-Ow… Sakura… you're hurting me…"

"S-Sorry!" She backed off slightly, wiping her eyes on her sleeve.

"I'd hug you but… I can't feel my arm," Ukon explained; his voice was quiet and slightly strained, but it was a voice, and that's all that mattered right now.

"The nurse said you broke it," Sakkon supplied, being far too manly to hug his brother in public.

"…Again?" Ukon raised an eyebrow.

"No it's the left one this time," Sakkon answered with a grin.

"'This time'?" Sakura repeated.

"I've broken just about every bone in my body," Ukon answered, strength returning to his voice little by little. "From sports mostly."

"I told you lacrosse was dangerous," Sakkon said, rolling his eyes.

"You were the one who broke it!" Ukon cried.

"…No I didn't."

"Yes, you did!"

"No I didn't."

"Yes you did.

"No I didn't."

"Yes you did.

"No I didn't."

"Yes you did.

"No I didn't."

"Yes you did.

"No I didn't."

"Yes you did.

"No I didn't."

"Yes you did.

"No I didn't."

"Yes you did.

"No I didn't."

"Yes you did.

"No I didn't."

"Yes you did.

"Can you not have one of your twin arguments now?" Sakura said, even though it was kind of amusing.

"I wasn't responsible for the broken leg, though," Sakkon muttered.

"What happened with the leg?" Sakura asked curiously.

"…Swimming accident," Ukon said with a grin.

"I told you to make sure there was water in the pool before you jumped in," Sakkon said with a grin.

Ukon's eyebrow twitched.

Sakura just giggled quietly, holding Ukon's hand, even if it was broken. Ukon by himself is funny enough… but with Sakkon, they're just hilarious…

"Hey, you're awake!" Kimimaro said suddenly, taking off his head phones and grinning at Ukon. Shizuka took hers off, as well, looking confused until she saw Ukon awake, then she grinned, as well.

"You're in here, too?" Ukon asked, struggling to look at Kimimaro over his respirator.

"Nope, I got released a while ago since I only got a few minor injuries," Kimimaro reassured him.

"Sorry, man." Ukon closed his eyes, taking a few breaths. "Do you guys know when I can get out of here?"

"Not really," Sakkon said, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "The nurse would know. Want me to go tell her you're awake?"

"Sure, and…" Ukon grinned lightly. "Could you get me some food? I'm starving."

Sakkon grinned, as well. "Sure."

Once Sakkon was gone, Ukon turned to Shizuka. "Where's Neji? I thought he'd be with you?"

She shook her head. "He's with Gaara at soccer try-outs. He said he'd call me when he was done, though." As if on cue, her cell phone rang in her pocket. "See?" She took it out. "Hello?"

No answer.

"…Hello?"

"…"

"Oh, hi, Gaara! Are try-outs over?"

"…"

"Did you make it?"

"…"

"Well, it'll be posted soon, right?"

"…"

"Oh, don't worry, I'm sure—"

"Shizuka?"

"Neji?"

"Yeah, we're on our way home. Can you still come over?"

"Yep. I'll be there in a bit, Ukon just woke up so I have to convince Sakkon to take me."

"We could pick you u—"

"No, that's fine," Shizuka said quickly.

Flashback

"Oh, my, dearie, Neji honey really does like you, doesn't he?" Neji's mom chirped as she crossed the intersection. "Ohh, I'm so glad he finally found someone! You really are a little cutie, aren't you? You know, when I was your age, I had pretty boys hanging all over me, too. Don't you just love it? Now you make sure you call Neji honey when you get home so he doesn't worry, alright?"

And she went on… and on… and on…

End flashback

"Sakkon will drive me," Shizuka said firmly.

"Ok, see you in a bit, then."

"Sakkon, drive me over to Neji's," Shizuka said when aforementioned reentered the room with a nurse, pocketing her cell phone.

He turned to look at her.

"…Drive me over to Neji's, please?" PUPPY-DOG EYES!

"Alright fine." Sakkon rolled his eyes and taking out his keys. "How far is it to Neji's?"

"About ten minutes, driving," Shizuka answered, getting up and grabbing her CD player.

"We'll be there in five," Sakkon said with a maniac glint in his eye.

"…Huh?"

-oOo-

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH! SAKKON, SLOW DOWN!" Shizuka shrieked, clinging to the armrests.

"GET OUTTA THE WAY, DUMBASSES!" Sakkon shouted at the slower-moving cars in the road. "I AIN'T AFRAID TO RUN YOU OVER!"

Oh, god, I forgot about his road rage… Shizuka said a quickly prayer. Kimimaro, if I die, you get my video games, manga…

"GET THE HELL OUT OF THE ROAD, YOU FUCKIN' PEDESTRIANS!"

Sakura gets my clothes…

"OH, FLICK ME OFF, WILL YOU?"

...Ukon gets my CDs…

"Ok, we're here," Sakkon said pleasantly, pulling into the Hyuuga driveway.

"LAND!" Shizuka sobbed, throwing herself out of the car and onto the ground by the driveway, not caring about the snow. (Hee hee… Apprentice references…)

"Ok, have fun, see you later, bye," Sakkon said, reaching over and closing the door as he pulled back out of the driveway.

"You're looking strangely… wind-blown," Neji said when Shizuka came in.

She gave him a look that read pure terror.

"Ok, you don't have to explain." He shrugged. "Gaara's in the shower, he'll be down in a few minutes."

"Ok." She stood up on tip toe, getting ready to kiss him, but stopped. "Wait, where's Hanabi?"

"…Nowhere," he said innocently, leaning down to kiss her.

(Meanwhile)

"MMMMPH!" Hanabi screamed against the gag in her mouth, struggling against the rope that kept her cocooned to the railing in her closet.


YOSH!

Review responses: (Holy fizzle, 17?)

DreamAnimeKitten: I love doing cliffhangers… sorry. They bring in more reviews, see? (Muhahaha I have you all right where I want you!)

Dragonman180: How could I let Ukon die? Seriously, let's think about this for a second. (thinks) I COULDN'T! Gah! I nearly did, though… People would have attacked me if I did (shifty eyes). I'm glad you liked the make-over. When I first wrote the chapter, it wasn't in it, but since so many people wanted it, I put it in. (Kenshin grin)

xl-twisted-lx: O.o DON'T PANIC!

A random student: Oro! I remember you! O.o You were in a car accident, too? Dude, that sucks! Pssh, who cares about Sasuke?

RLN and IHN: (Kenshin grin) Yes. I love cliff hangers. …well, actually, I love writing them… I hate it when other fics have them. (How that works out is beyond me)

KageNoKatana: Poor Shukaku… (stabs him) WHAT YOU MEAN, "OH WELL"? UKON COULD HAVE DIED!

Kie-san: O.o No Neji plushie for me…? Nuuu…. T.T … You don't know what a blow-job is? Dude, you suck! Oh well… not gonna comment on the rest of the review… as I said before, I do not talk about what will happen in the future of my fics. Don't want to disappoint, but don't want to ruin it either, no da!

Crazytreeotaku: O.o YOU KNOW WHERE I LIVE? DAMMIT. Don't tell Kie-san… she wants to kill me, that she does. (sweatdrop)

AlphaC: Oh well… the mood was too perky and I was slightly depressed when I wrote it. (Kenshin grin)

Epuneyujah: Yes. I am evil. Fear me.

Meg Haze: Not that much fluff now, but there will be, no fears!

Riyo Shiban: Ukon-pun? The fuck? Oh well… DON'T CRY! ….Please review? Oro?

AznNarutoGrl-91: Oh hellz, yes… (Kenshin grin)

Ginka: I TORTURE YOU BECAUSE I LOVE YOU, THAT I DO! Lol, j.k. If it makes you feel any better, everyone else had to go through it, too.

Jazzy Uchiha: Read above chapter.

Flaming Sakura: O.o Whoa… (takes deep breaths) Long review. Ok, I shall try to respond to all points made. Um… I'm very glad you like it! I just e-mailed you the pictures before I posted this so I hope you enjoy them. (I have better pix if you want them) RAMMSTEIN IS AWESOME! OH, SO VERY AWESOME! I know how you felt with the reviewing, but I'm glad you stayed true to your word and reviewed all the other chapters, too! It made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! And yes, it is an anime music video, dearie (No one will think you're stupid, it took me forever to figure it out, too). I love cliffies, that I do! And, you don't have to read Apprentice. This fic was written so that people who haven't read Apprentice can still read about Shizuka and all them and enjoy it. You don't need to read it, although I think you might enjoy it… MIGHT being the key phrase. It's very angsty so watch out. WEE! I AM ON SOMEONE'S FAVORITE LIST! (happy face)

Bs: Honey, I don't give a damn if I kill Sasuke off. I really don't. I hate his guts. Sorry. I don't mean to be mean if he is your favorite character.