hi everyone! i hope you all liked my first chapter of my new series. if you have noticed, everything was in italics. thats because the first few chapters are the memories of one of the main characters. around the 4th or 5th chapter if i ever get that far... it'll be around present time! anyways! enjoy my second chappie folks!

"Youko? Hey, Youko, did you hear me?"

"Huh? What? You say somethin' Kakashi?"

"Youko you've been acting strange lately. Is there something on your mind?"

"Well...actually, yes. I've been wondering how Iruka has been for these past couple of months. I haven't seen him in a while. Do you think that he's really given up on being a shinobi?"

"I wouldn't be surprised. He's never really succeeded in anything throughout his entire life so he probably just gave himself a reality check and decided to just give up."

Youko sighed deeply and stared down into her bowl of hot, steaming ramen.

"Maybe so but...I'd hate to see him leave us like that. He's such a nice kid. A little stupid at times but it's safe to say that he's one of the nicest kids I know."

"Aww! What a nice thing to say Youko-kun! I think that you're nice too!"

Kakashi and Youko spun quickly around in their chairs at the boy standing behind them in the entrance of the ramen shop. "Of course, I didn't really like that whole 'stupid' comment..."

Well, speak of the devil, it's Iruka...I should've known... Kakashi thought to himself frowning slightly.

"Hey there Iruka. It's nice to actually see ya again. So, have you decided on going bak to the academy?"

"Yeah for like the third time in a row..." murmured Kakashi under his breath.

"I heard that you asshole! And I've done even better than just going back to the academy!"

"How so, Iruka-kun?" Youko stood smiling at him.

Iruka pulled off his rain-soaked hood and held up a notice, from the Hokage, stating that "...Umino Iruka has proven himself worthy of taking the Chuunin exams with his teammates Mitsurugi Youko and Hatake Kakashi".

"Iruka I knew you could do it! Congrats!" Youko jumped up and down frantically yelling "congradulations!" all over place while Kakashi just stood there...dumbstruck...

Impossible! He's just some idiot! How could HE of all people be accepted to take the Chuunin exams? This doesn't make sense! This doesn't make any sense at all!

"Thanks, Youko. But really it was because of you that I didn't give up..." Iruka smiled and took Youko's hands in his. "So I just wanted to say thank you...for everything. You were the only one who's ever believed in me; the ONLY one."

"Aww shucks, Iruka-kun. I'm sure anyone else would've done the same."

"That's bullshit and you know it, Youko! No one cares about me...that is...except you. Thank you for being there for me Youko...I really appreciate it."

"Ok! That's enough!" Kakashi grabbed Youko by her shoulders and pulled her away from Iruka. "Ok wise guy, now how, exactly, did you get permission to take the Chuunin exams when you clearly don't deserve to?"

"He said it already, Kakashi. He trained extremely hard and he got special permission from the Hokage. Why are you getting so upset, Kakashi?"

"Yeah, Kakashi? Why so upset? Are ya jealous?" Iruka smirked and rested his arm across Youko's shoulders. "There's no need to get all testy. All that matters is that I get to take the test and we get to hang out again; just the three of us!"

"Yep! And just in time for the Tanabata festival. It starts next week ya know. Aren't we lucky?"

Yeah...lucky if Iruka could just drop dead...

"Speaking of the festival, I need to go look for a new kimono. You guys wanna come along?"

"Of course Youko-chan. Nothing could possibaly make me happier!" Iruka and Youko laughed lightly and locked arms.

"Kakashi-kun, are ya coming with us?" Youko asked, tugging on his sleeve.

"No...I have some stuff to take care of. You guys go ahead." Kakashi yanked his arm away from Youko and walked off into the warm, spring rain.

"Um..ok! I'll just see you later then!" She called back after him. But he seemed to didn't acknowledge her.

"Forget him. Let's get going, Youko-chan!" Iruka opened up an umbrela and started walking her down the road in the opposite direction of Kakashi. "And since you've been so nice to me, I'll even buy the kimono for you!"

"Thanks, but no thanks, Iruka. I think I can manage."

"Oh well. Suit yourself!"

I've never seen Kakashi act this way before...could he really be jealous of Iruka? Youko looked back in Kakashi's direction and sighed. He'll get over it...he always does. She smiled and turned back facing front.

Stupid Iruka...hanging all over Youko like that! Just who the hell does he think he is? Kakashi thought to himself, throwing rocks into the lake. He's so oblivious...he doesn't even realize that she isn't interested in him! Wait...why do I care? He's just some poor, stupid little kid! A girl like her would never be interested in a jerk like him! ...But just to be safe...I have to get Youko to like me by the end of the festival next week before he does! Then I could rub it in his face!

"Operation: Payback will prove to Youko that I'm better than him in every possible way..."