A/N: I will never, ever tire of thanking you for your reviews, so don't tire of reviewing me too! Thanks so much! Sorry about the delay in updating, though… We still have that leadership training for our fourth year.
khmer shinobi: Now you're going to find out what he put in the cookies hahaha… I really don't know what it tastes like when you accidentally put globs of it in a cookie batter, but all the same, I think it's enough instead of putting too much mint that the cookies taste like toothpaste. Ah, I made you choke on my breakfast! Woohoo! Mad props to me, then! XP Cheers!
Shanice Miharu: My classmate suggested that book report thing… I'm really glad it worked out well! XD I just thought that Neji should really suck at one thing, and it just so happens to be baking! Thanks so much! Tc rin po lagi!
Xoni Newcomer: Thanks so much for the constructive criticism! Let's see… I already worked out the problem of Gaara being new and the tension you mentioned. (Hey, that rhymed! XD) As for Neji disliking Gaara, that's bound to come up in a while, because it's Hinata's point of view, and I felt that I shouldn't immediately give an explanation to every detail. Sasuke's speculations in the next chapter will probably give a hint, though.
DemonFireGirlHotaru: My God, my frostbitten fingers were given hell typing your pen name. But, hey, you write very good (and very long) reviews, so it was well worth it! Anyway, don't worry about the Icha Icha Paradise and Sasuke, I'm going to write it in his point of view so we can look at his reaction better. Hmm… About Shino… I'll have to agree with you and Xoni Newcomer on that one, so I won't throw Shino to the fray. But he'll be like a very best friend, a big brother, and a sort of guardian combined, though not as overprotective as Neji is. I'm so happy that you think it's great! –hug-
Moonsnow Neko: What! They are not disgusting! At least, not for me. XD Anyways, I read your story! It's very good, and I want to see what happens when Suzuki goes to the festival. Oh man… I forgot if I've reviewed it, please tell me if I hadn't done so yet!
lunarangel: That's a cookie with disaster written in invisible ink all over it. XD Lol, Neji sucks so bad at baking. Hmm… If Kakashi wasn't a pervert, then it wouldn't be the same! And Gaara… he probably wanted to see what the cookie would taste like before he ate it. And yeah, Kiba has pinchable cheeks! I think I'd probably make Hinata pinch him when she's not happy with something he did but doesn't have the guts to tell. Thanks so much for your review!
nightxXxshade: Whaaa XD 75 percent is so not a good thing. x.X Especially in Math! Wahahaha omg I need a life. XD Ja!
chinadoll27: Thanks! I'm glad you like the cookie part. Truthfully, I'm not really amused when I read the cookie part… Probably because I'm the one who wrote it. Anyway, if it makes you laugh, then I'm happy! And also, thanks for your reviews on Alone No More! I really appreciate it!
shikaruTo: Thanks! Wow, I never knew I was like that with Neji. I just envision him as Hinata's big brother figure (well, duh! Hiashi did adopt Neji, so technically, Neji is Hinata's big brother ahahah oh man I need to get out more), and I like torturing him in small ways. Wow, you're Asian too? Ahahah, Asian pride! Well, as I said before I won't (to quote DFGH) throw Shino into the mix (end quote), but he's a sort of all-seeing character there.
Scented Candles: Thanks so much! You have faith in me, don't ya? I'll do my best to make this as entertaining as possible. Hmm… Maybe you're right, it'll be awkward for Shino to suddenly try and catch her attention, so… Yah. And btw, are you the lei who posted in my tagboard in my Xanga? If you are, your LJ is sooo cute! I love the layout!
Jasmine Starlight: Whaaaa! XD You like Asian Kung-fu Generation too? That's my favorite band! Whaaa! I can't believe it! I love them so much! Anyway, I'm probably going to add a concert (SPOILER ALERT!) from AKG, just because I love them soo much!
newblue: Hi there! Thanks so much for the review!
We finished eating our lunches, and were tidying up our own table when the bell rang.
We joined the crowd of students jostling through the corridor, going to their rooms before the second bell rang.
Shino-kun and I were walking behind Kiba-kun and Gaara. Suddenly a hand pulled me to a side corridor, where there were fewer people. For one wild moment, I felt terror, but that didn't last long as I looked up to see Shino-kun, who was still holding my forearm.
"Shi-Shino-kun?" I asked. My heart was still beating a little fast. Why was he doing this? What is he going to say or do? What is this about? Is something bothering him?
"Hinata-chan, you're hiding something."
"Nani?" I asked, confused. What was I hiding? I couldn't remember if I didn't tell anything to Shino-kun. He knew all about me; either I told him, or he persuaded me to tell, because he knew I wasn't telling.
"You were about to say something on that English thing, but Gaara interrupted you." He said it matter-of-factly.
Oh, that English thing. Shino-kun was a good observer. I suppose why Gaara cut me off was because he felt it wasn't our place to tell.
"Well," I poked my fingers together. "You're my groupmate, so I suppose it really won't hurt…"
"Go on," he said quietly.
"Well… You see… Kakashi-sensei asked the three of us to grade the novels that our classmates will pass."
Shino-kun gave a low whistle, and then shrugged. "That's a pretty big order. Are you sure you can handle this? And how can Kakashi-sensei put Gaara to the job, when Gaara's new here?"
I cocked my head to one side, thinking. I entirely forgot that Gaara was new! Well… By the time the submission deadline comes, Gaara won't be new anymore. But still… I wonder why Kakashi-sensei did let Gaara do it. "Hai, Shino-kun, I can handle it. It'll be the four of us in there, anyway," I said softly. "As for Gaara-san—Gaara—maybe Kakashi-sensei forgot that he was new…?"
"Maybe," Shino-kun conceded. "Anyway," he looked at me seriously. I think he did… I could feel his eyes on me. "I trust you'll be fair about this. You always are at everything."
"Hai…" I felt my cheeks redden a little at the compliment.
"Come on, then," he said, briskly walking to our room. "I think we're already late." The crowd had thinned considerably.
The second bell rang, signaling that lunch break was over and classes were about to start. The first bell after lunch break was a warning. We increased our pace. We met a charcoal-haired sensei with rather unique red eyes. She was really pretty, with full, red lips that gave a soft smile.
We bowed to her. "Good afternoon, sensei," we said.
"Good afternoon." She returned the bow.
We stood aside to let her pass first, and then rushed to our chairs.
"Where were you?" I heard Kiba-kun hiss to Shino-kun.
"Good afternoon class," she said in a smooth voice. I could see some of the boys lean forward eagerly. "I'm Yuuhi Kurenai, and my subject is Home Economics."
Home Economics was my next favorite subject, after English!
"The subject shall cover the following areas: Practical Arts, which includes cooking, handicrafts, basic electronic and household repairs, and recycling. For our Theoretical Arts, we have farming, poultry raising, and also cooking. Are there any questions?"
I smiled to myself. Cooking in Home Economics was the primary reason I liked the subject. Truthfully, I was better in cooking than martial arts any day.
A boy raised his hand. It was Subido Kouichi, the junior vice-president of the judo club in school. "Yuuhi-sensei?"
Kurenai-sensei turned her red eyes on him. "Yes?" She consulted the seat plan. "Subido Kouichi, correct?"
"Yes," he nodded. "I have no problem about the other areas in our Practical Arts. But… Basic electronic and household repairs? Are you sure you can teach that?" He looked up and down at Kurenai-sensei.
I frowned a little. So Subido-san was sexist…
Kurenai-sensei's eyes hardened. "Yes, I am perfectly sure. Do you think I would try to teach something I have no skills in?"
"You're… Just… New here, and female too, that's all," Subido-san said, a frown line appearing on his face,
Murmurs broke out from the room. "I resent that!" Ino-san called out loud.
"Hey, you dobe!" Naruto-kun said, louder than Ino-san. "Don't go around putting down girls like that! Especially senseis!"
"The principal had good reason to put me here, Subido-san," Kurenai-sensei retorted coolly, and the murmurs were turned to hushed whispers. "If you are doubtful of this class, then please, by all means, leave."
Subido-san sat down quietly.
"Well, if there are any more questions—and objections, please raise your hand," Kurenai-sensei said in a level voice.
Nobody raised their hands.
"…Good. Then we understand each other." She bowed to us. "Good day, class." She turned and walked out the room.
When she left, the whole class erupted into talk, mostly on the exchange between Kurenai-sensei and Subido-san.
"Wow, she sure is something, isn't she?" Kiba-kun said. "Not just another pretty face…"
"Tomorrow, we'll find out," said Shino-kun.
I nodded. Remembering something, I turned to face Gaara slightly, avoiding direct eye contact with him. "Gaara, can-can I ask you something?"
"Hn." I took that for a yes.
"Why did you stop me w-when Kiba-kun asked what Kakashi-sensei t-told us?"
"It might leak."
I nodded slowly. I knew what he meant, and it was strange. Even if he doesn't speak more than five syllables, I knew what he was driving at. It was… it was like… I could read him.
Suddenly, the bell rang three times, signaling the end of the day. I tilted my head. It was only one subject, and we were dismissed so early? Why? There instantly was noise from the class. They were also wondering why we were dismissed so early.
The loudspeakers crackled to life, and the voice of our principal came through. "Students, wait for your advisers before going home. That is all." There was a sound of the microphone dropping, and with a burst of feedback, the PA was turned off.
I smiled to myself. I enjoyed early dismissals, especially when it was this early. Who wouldn't?
The door banged open, and Anko-sensei marched in, laden with papers and folders. Her hair was up in a clamp, making the ends stick out. She banged her desk three times and the class instantly quieted. Death quiet.
"I will leave the list of cleaners on my desk. Those who are assigned for the day, stay behind and clean the room. Now, make a single line and look for your names here. Today's cleaners, assign a leader and that leader, take charge. Goodbye, class," Anko-sensei instructed loudly and clearly. She picked up her papers and went out the room in a hurry.
Shino-kun, Kiba-kun, and I stayed in our seats as almost everyone else formed the line and looked for their names in Anko-sensei's list. Some crowded around the table, impatient for their turn. There was a lot of noise, and students spilled out from their rooms in the other sections.
"Who do you think our last two subjects are?" Kiba-kun asked, turning in his seat so he faced me and Shino-kun. "They won't be giving out the list of electives until next week."
"I bet it's Hayate," Kiba-kun went on. "Though I wouldn't like sitting in front if it was him. He might have germs," he added, looking at us, and mimicking Hayate-sensei's perpetual cough.
"What about Ibiki-sensei?" I asked.
Kiba-kun shuddered. "I hope not! He has that creepy look and you'd have a hell of a headache if you talked to him."
I giggled a little. "He's not that creepy."
"Come on," Shino-kun said. "The line's getting shorter."
We stood up and fell in line. There were already some students moving the chairs around, sweeping. I saw Shikamaru-san looking out the window, blackboard eraser in hand.
"OI! SHIKAMARU!" yelled Sakura-san. "Get your lazy butt to work!"
Shikamaru-san grumbled something, and I guess he said "troublesome" again.
Kiba-kun and Shino-kun crowded around me when it was my turn. "I'm going to clean tomorrow," Shino-kun said with a little sigh.
"And I'll be on Thursday," Kiba-kun said. He nodded at the list. "Damn, it'll be hard to clean with all those fangirls tittering about him."
Shino-kun nodded. "And probably those from other sections and year levels sticking their faces in the windows."
Kiba-kun snickered. "If they do that, I'll close the windows on their faces."
I smiled and scanned the list. I was a Wednesday cleaner, with... I scanned the list to see someone I was close enough to. Gaara. "Come on," I told them. "Nii-san's waiting by the gate."
"Psh," Kiba-kun said as we walked out the door. "You know, that weird cousin of yours is too overprotective. And a crappy baker," he added. I guess he still hadn't forgotten about the cookies.
"Hinata-chan is someone to be protected," Shino-kun said.
I blushed at that, though I didn't want to add something to Shino-kun's comment. "Neji-niisan isn't weird," I said with a smile.
"He's just quiet, Kiba," Shino-kun said. "Anyone quiet to you is weird."
"Yeah, right," Kiba-kun scoffed. "Ne, that Uchiha is also weird too! Imagine having a fanclub since twelve! And he acts like he doesn't really like having one!"
"Twelve? That was the time when Hinata-chan—" I cut Shino-kun short by covering his mouth. Of course, I had to stand a little on my toes to accomplish that. I knew he was going to bring up the subject of Naruto-kun again.
Kiba-kun snorted. "That baka sure was dense. Imagine, almost everyone in school knew, except him. And even now, he still doesn't know! He rolled his eyes. "Once an idiot, always an idiot."
"Don't speak of him like that, Kiba-kun," I pleaded. I really didn't like it when one person calls another names. "He means well."
"Suit yourself, Hinata-chan," Kiba-kun said. We reached the gate. He and Shino-kun went on home together, while Neji-niisan and I went the other way. "Bye!"
"Bye, Kiba-kun! Bye, Shino-kun!" I said. "Kiotsukete!"
Shino-kun help us his hand in a wave, not looking back. I liked it when guys do that. It looked…cool. And… I shrugged to myself and smiled. It really didn't matter.
I turned to see Neji-niisan leaning against the wall. He straightened up when I came nearer.
"I'm sorry for the delay, nii-san," I apologized. "We waited for Anko-sensei and she gave us the list of cleaners."
He shrugged. "It's all right. So… How were my cookies?"
I looked down and sighed. I recognized that eager gleam in his eye, and I knew it wasn't going to be easy failing him. "Well…" I said, careful to keep my voice neutral. I took a deep breath.
"It appears you've used the hot sauce instead of the mint, Neji-niisan," I explained carefully.
He looked at me weirdly for a moment. I was afraid he was going to suddenly bang his head against the wall or something similar. Call me over the top, but sometimes, you really don't know what's going on with Neji-niisan. Finally, he said, "…so that's why…"
I poked my fingers together nervously. Sometimes, I think Neji-niisan will just snap one day. "What—what do you mean?" I asked timidly.
He didn't look at me for a minute, contemplating. "TenTen… and Lee… ran to the garbage can when they took a bite… and then they returned without the cookies. And they refused to take another one," He said faintly and slowly.
"Oh—well, it's all right," I said in what I hoped was a cheery voice. It was a good thing
that he didn't see Kiba-kun and Shino-kun's reaction, I decided. Neji-niisan would probably throw a fit. "Try again! Nobody gets it right the first time anyway. Come on, let's go to the grocery store and buy some more supplies." I pulled him by hand into the grocery store we were passing.
"You don't understand…" I heard him mutter as we went through the sliding doors. Before I could take another step, he stopped me and said, "I'll be by the other aisles."
"Sure," I nodded and went to take a basket. I proceeded to the aisle for baking supplies. As I turned around the corner, I bumped into someone.
"Watch it," he growled. Then the voice quickly added with some surprise, "Hinata-san."
I looked up. "Sasuke-san!" I squeaked in surprise. "I-I'm sorry," I said, averting my eyes.
"It's all right," he said. I thought he was going to leave after that, but he didn't. He stood in front of me, expecting to say something.
I was a miserable conversation starter, but I did my best, anyway. "What-what are you doing here?" I asked, fidgeting with my uniform.
He looked at the basket he was holding, and then back at me. "Stocking my pantry. You?"
"I was going to buy some… flour… a-and stuff for baking," I answered nervously, also a little wary. Who wouldn't? Sasuke-san had a penetrating gaze and his eyes were pools of darkness pulling you down, down…
"Oh? Are you good at baking?" he asked, sounding curious and interested.
Sasuke-san? Curious and interested? For as long as we've been classmates (and that was since first grade), I had never seen or heard of him be interested in something other than Math and extra credit. He was always… Unemotional. Disinterested. Indifferent. Grumpy. You could just imagine my surprise and nervousness when here we were at the grocery, having a somewhat normal conversation.
"Yes, I-I am…" I said, a little proud, and fidgeting more than ever. "I'm going to bake some cookies for tomorrow," I added.
He raised an eyebrow. "I'd like to have some, if that's all right with you."
"S-Sure," I replied, a little astonished. Sasuke-san? Was this really you? Besides the things I've mentioned, I've always pictured him as impatient, curt, and a little snobbish. That was the way he was when dealing with his fangirls. But I guess he really didn't appreciate having a fan club, so he wasn't very nice to them. And now here he was, asking me to bring him some cookies tomorrow! Cookies that I baked! "No problem."
"…Good…" he said. "See you."
"See you too," I said weakly. When he left, I sagged against the shelf and heaved a great sigh.
"Hinata-chan."
I straightened up quickly. "Neji-niisan!"
"I saw you talking to Uchiha."
I didn't know if that was a question or not. "Um, yes," I replied. Did I do something wrong?
"What did he say?" he asked. There was a gleam of something in his eye. Once again, he was making his expression unreadable.
"A-ano… Nii-san… He was asking about baking," I replied.
He raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"Hai," I replied, a little uneasy. He looked a stern and mad, like the way Father looks at me when I bring home average grades. "I'm going to get supplies now." I scurried to buy flour and other stuff, especially another bottle of mint extract.
Yes! I got to talk to her! Sasuke smiled inwardly at the exchange between him and Hinata. He was thankful that she happened to be on the same grocery that he was buying in. If this is her local store, then that means her house is near mine!
His mind whirled with possibilities at the thought of them living a block away from each other.
And now I'm going to have an excuse for sitting with her at lunch tomorrow! Ha, and that Inuzuka won't have anything to say about it.
…I just hope Aburame wouldn't say anything… I know he's quiet and all, but you can't tell. He and Inuzuka are best friends. I wonder if he told…
"Oh, sorry," he said, as he bumped into a girl. He had been so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn't see where he was going.
"That-that's okay," she said breathlessly, her eyes shining. "I should be the one who's sorry!"
That's stupid. I was the one who bumped into her. He ignored the comment and continued to walk away.
"My name's Nagisa Shiroku! What's yours?" she called out to his retreating back.
…Che… Annoying girls… "Not interested," he muttered under his breath.
Half an hour later, I was having trouble walking to the counter because of my overloaded basket. Besides baking supplies, I also bought some fruits and snacks. I knew I should've gotten a pushcart!
As I neared another aisle, a familiar voice said, "let me help."
I turned around, nearly spilling the junk food at the top of my basket. "Sasuke-san, um—"
"That won't be necessary," Neji-niisan's voice cut in, cool and sharp. He took the basket from me and inspected it. He made his way to the line, carrying the basket as if it contained feathers.
I sighed and before following him, I turned to Sasuke-san. "Thanks anyway, Sasuke-san," I said, and gave him a halfhearted smile.
He shrugged.
I followed Neji-niisan and helped him unload the items on the counter. When we were finished, I tried to take a package from him—even the lightest one—but he wouldn't let me. in the end, I took my bag from him, because his hands were fairly full.
"Let's take the bus," I suggested.
"No," he replied flatly.
I left it at that. I didn't get why niisan was kind of mad when he saw Uchiha-san— I mean Sasuke-san—but nevertheless, I had to try.
"Um… nii-san?" I asked hesitantly. He didn't say anything, so I went on. "Are you mad at Sasuke-san?"
He looked at me weirdly, like earlier. I think one of these days, Neji-niisan is going to snap. He keeps his feelings bottled up.
"Why do you ask?" he asked slowly.
It was impossible to poke my fingers, so I fiddled with my bag. "Um… Well… You seem kind of mad," I answered carefully.
He looked away. "You read me too well, Hinata."
I hid my surprise as best as I could. First Gaara, and now nii-san? Was I becoming psychic…? "Um, so… Are you… Are you mad at Sasuke-san?"
He shrugged and didn't answer.
We were silent on the way home.