"The purpose of life is to fight maturity."-Dick Werthimer
Pencils scratched onto paper, the faint noises of their tips were the only sound in the classroom. Emiko sat nervously in her chair, her eyes trained on the paper lying before her. Even with her studying with Sakura and Megumi she found herself staring blankly at the problems, her mind reeling from confusion and frustration.
Emiko sat calmly in her seat, her head buried in her arms. The silence of the room felt as though someone had smothered the students with a blanket. Her hands shook and she hastily grabbed her pencil to calm her nerves. A rattling noise shook the room and she hastily dropped the pencil, her face tinting red as she could feel the stares from the students. 'When are those stupid results coming back!'
Logarithms…hyperbola and epicenters…Shakespeare stanzas…Ions and polar bondage between atoms…trigonometry and grammar…A nervous heat rose in Emiko face and she rubbed her temples. 'I hate school…' Several students stood and simply walked out, not bothering to turn in their answer sheets. The teams from five schools had been ordered to meet in a popular building for the preliminary testing, a guess of about half of the students were gone either from cheating or giving up.
Tilting her head she could see rows of students in varying forms of nerves, each trying to occupy their mind as they fidgeted in their seats. Two rows away a flash of familiar pink hair could be seen as Sakura was desperately trying to stay calm. Taking her chance to look up on each of her classmates Emiko rose slightly to see Naruto anxiously waiting in his seat, looking almost ready to jump from his seat and run to get the results himself.
"Naruto stop being so loud!" Sakura ordered as they entered the building. To Emiko the building looked like an enlarged and well kept temple, with beautiful decorations and a small pond that was crossed by a small bridge. 'Sort of a weird place to have a competition…' Emiko thought to herself as she studied the front of the building. Once inside she realized that it was where the competing students would be staying, four to a room with girls in one section and boys in another.
"Once you are settled you are allowed to wander anywhere but to the opposite gender's section. The grounds are open but do not disturb anything." The instructor declared before he began to direct students to their rooms.
Emiko waited quietly, slightly swaying on her feet from a mixture of bored and sleepiness. Her mind drifted from the conversation but she kept one ear open for her name. Naruto waved and set off down a hall with his roommates, a irritable looking red head with a tattoo on his forehead, Shikamaru and a young man with round glasses and a friendly look.
"Emiko, come on." Emiko turned to Sakura to see her hurriedly motioning for Emiko to follow. "We're paired with two others." Emiko jogged after Sakura, following quietly through the hallways until Sakura turned into a room. Four mats were spaced evenly on the floor. On one wall there was a small window with a few into the grounds. Sakura claimed a bed and Emiko took the last one before she studied the two who were sitting quietly in the room.
On the bed across from Emiko's was a girl with sandy colored hair pulled into four ponytails. Her eyes were adverted to her bag as she ruffled through her things for something. The other girl was sitting cross-legged, contenting to reading a book. Her brunette hair was pulled back into two buns, she seemed friendly as she turned to them and smiled.
"I'm Tenten." She introduced herself and Sakura smiled happily before introducing herself and Emiko, who was busy searching for something.
'I want to sleep…' Emiko thought dully before she turned her gaze to Sasuke who was sitting calmly his fingers laced at his chin. Her gaze lingered on his form, studying how he waited calmly, onyx eyes watching the wall blankly. Realizing she had been staring Emiko broke away her gaze and pushed away the tint on her cheeks before anyone could notice. 'I wasn't staring…I was…observing." A picture-like image of the teen showed in her mind and she let out a quiet groan before she buried her head in her arms.
"Emi-chan come outside its fun!" Naruto's face popped into view for a brief moment. Emiko opened the door an inch to look out only to find a group of girls walking down the hall chattering away happily.
"Over here!" Sakura looked to the window to see Naruto flitting in and out of view, grinning the entire time. Tenten glanced at the blonde but said nothing as she continued to relax while their other teammate stood and left the room quietly.
"Naruto! Stop that!" Sakura reprimanded as Emiko opened the window. Waiting calmly Emiko giggled before she shot out her hand to poke Naruto on the forehead. The blonde disappeared from sight and Emiko chuckled as she peeked out the window to see Naruto sitting on the ground rubbing his forehead.
"Come outside I'm stuck with Sasuke-teme and it's BOR-ING." Naruto declared loudly. Emiko shrugged. 'I could see that being boring since they don't get along.' Emiko reasoned mentally before she turned to Sakura who was already eagerly at the door ready to go out and make a good impression on the others and Sasuke.
"Alright we'll be out now go run around." Emiko ordered before she rushed to follow Sakura out the door.
'I want to goooooo. How long does it take to grade stupid tests!' harsh sounds of chairs scrapping against the floor boomed throughout the room and Emiko peered over to see students standing, leaving the room while muttering impatiently. Seeing their example a few others stood and deciding that they could be given their results later they left.
'Should I?' Emiko caught Sakura's gaze for a second before she looked back onto her desk. Her heart thumped against her chest and her hands shook nervously as she thought over the option. 'Standing up…walking in front of all those people…' Her eyes darted over the students still remaining, most were staring blankly. Her chair moved and Emiko felt her heart practically stop as it screeched in protest. In a flash Emiko hid her face in her folded arms, pretending to be asleep to avoid the stares while her face flushed red.
"Sasuke-kun!" Emiko let out a low sigh as Sakura skipped to the Uchiha as he sat underneath a tree. His arms were folded against his chest and it seemed he was oblivious to the world as his head was bowed. Emiko let out a light sigh before turning to Naruto who was grinning happily as he jogged towards them.
"Sakura you might want to leave Sasuke alone since he's sleeping." Emiko commented carelessly before she turned to Naruto who wasted no time in challenging her to a race. Sakura's eyes softened before she nodded and contented herself to sitting beside him. 'She shouldn't sit so close,' Emiko thought to herself as she considered pushing them apart. 'Ah who cares.' She ordered herself to stop thinking about it and took a start position while Naruto began the loud countdown.
"Go…Yon…San…Ni…Ichi…"(5…4…3…2…1…)'Geez Naruto did you have to start from five?' Emiko thought to herself, slightly annoyed as she waited impatiently for the last of the deliberately slow countdown.
"Juunana!(17)" Emiko interrupted noisily causing Naruto to nearly tip over from surprise.
"Juunana!" Naruto bellowed as he collected himself. Emiko laughed for a moment before she nodded calmly.
"It's my favorite number." She stated as though it was nothing before she returned to a mock track start position.
"Okay…go…" Emiko took off, laughing as she heard Naruto's yells of protest as her illegal start.
The sound of a door opening squealed through the room and each student rose in their seat, peering around the room curiously for the source. At the front of the room stood the test's examiner, a rather surly and formidable looking man with scars running the length of his face named Morino. 'I'd hate to meet him in a dark alley.' Emiko pondered while mindless biting her pinkie nail. Stupid nerves.
"When we call out your group number you have failed. Each student's grade was added to that of their group members and judged according to a scale. If your group is called leave immediately and pack your things." Her spoke roughly to the crowd, his eyes hardening as he scanned over the groups.
'If we have Sasuke and Sakura they scored decently at least but what about Naruto and me?' Emiko began to mentally fret, continuing to anxious bite at her nails as group numbers were shouted out to the room, the members standing and walking out in various stages of disappointment and sadness. Her ears didn't seem to be working as everything became muffled and she clasped her hand over her ears to block out the sounds of a sobbing young girl as she was dismissed with her team.
It was only when Morino stopped speaking did she uncover her ears to warily glance around the room. 'Is it over?' Naruto seemed shaken but confident while the others seemed unchanged.
"Those who left are also to be disqualified." Morino stated clearly. "If a member isn't here those in his or her group must leave." At this a few students stood obviously upset at the news as they filed out quietly.
"Now to those still here. In one day at 7:00 a.m. sharp you are to report back here for the next assignments." Joy burst in Emiko and she let out a loud shout of happiness before crashing back into her seat under the glares of the fellow students. Her head felt as though it would explode from the sudden rush of blood and heat and she desperately tried to ignore the embarrassment. Silence deafened the room before Morino exited the room, his fellow colleagues following obediently. Instantly Naruto was jumping from his chair mimicking Emiko's former movements as he let out a woot in pure excitement.
"WE'RE IN!" He jumped over to Sakura in an attempt to hug her but the pink haired teen managed to dodge at the last minute causing Naruto to crash into the desk. Emiko could barely contain her excitement as she practically skipped over to her fellow team mates.
"Naruto high five!" Emiko declared as they both tried to high five only to miss each others hands in their apparent hyper active mode. Emiko chuckled before she looked to Sakura who was watching Sasuke as he stood feet away from them looking utterly bored.
"High five?" Emiko waved her hand in front of Sakura's face causing her to snap from her trance before giving Emiko a brief, half-hearted high five.
"High five Sasuke!" Emiko joked as she held her hand out. Minutes passed as they stayed in the same pose before Emiko glowered and smacked the Uchiha on the back of the head.
"Emiko! Don't hit Sasuke-kun!"
"Well he was being a jerk!"
"Not everyone is as childish as you and Naruto!"
"You did it too! What was it a momentary lapse in judgment!"
"Hai. I'm much more mature than that!" Sakura declared her hands on her hips as she tried to reinforce the fact that she was above petty child-hood things. 'Stupid crush on Sasuke…Sakura's better than this.' Emiko thought while glancing at the Uchiha who seemed annoyed at the situation but otherwise uncaring about it all.
"Sasuke-kun!" Emiko dropped her head in defeat, allowing it to land on Naruto's shoulder. She closed her eyes, willing away the sense of annoyance as Ino sprinted up to the group, latching onto Sasuke's arm with joyful stars in her eyes. Peeking at the sight Emiko's mouth twitched into a frown, wishing for something to yank Ino off Sasuke.
'Get off him…' Emiko blinked. 'Nani? I can't be thinking that. What do I care if they fight over him? Nothing. That's right. Nothing. Stupid clingy fan girls just annoy me is all.' Emiko lifted her head from Naruto's shoulder and sighed, rubbing her forehead wearily before she glanced to see Shikamaru, Kiba and Megumi standing calmly feet away from the display of fan girl affection.
Emiko waved to the three and Megumi smiled faintly before she mouthed 'talk later' and followed the boys on their way out to seek sleep and some food. Watching the others leave she turned her gaze to Naruto who was watching Sasuke jealously as Sakura and Ino continued to argue over him. 'Get away.' Emiko paused as she growled faintly in her throat, drawing Naruto's bright blue eyes to her with questions sparkling in the blue depths.
Hurriedly Emiko turned her gaze from him and let out an exaggerated sigh before strolling towards an exit. 'I have to get out of here…' Her thoughts focused on the door before her and her pace quickened before she sprinted for the door.
"Emi-chan?" Emiko brushed off Naruto's call and took in the fresh air. Wind brushed lovingly through her hair, dancing with her locks of hair and ruffling her clothes as she stood outside. A look of euphoria passed her face as she closed her eyes, smiling faintly and tilted her head towards the sky slowly gathering grey garments for the storm.
"What are you doing?" Emiko's eyes snapped open and she glimpsed over her shoulder to see Sasuke leaning against the building wall, his hands in his pockets and his onyx eyes staring blankly at her.
"Enjoying the moment." Emiko replied vacantly before gazing at the storms. The air was damp and welcoming. The wind swayed through the trees, ruffling budding out from under thin blankets of snow. "Haven't you ever just sat in the rain?" The idea of rain lightened her spirits more than the news of passing the test had the ability to.
"Of course not." Sasuke replied disdainfully.
"What about your fangirls?" Emiko chose to change the subject, hoping her dislike of the publicly affectionate girls wasn't too obvious. 'Sakura and Ino are better than gushing over him. They're both smart and pretty and they were good friends.' Emiko thought to herself before she stepped further away from the building and sat on the ground.
"Hn." Emiko rested on her hand and stared at the sky, praying for pricks of rain.
"Would you care to join?" Emiko questioned in a joking manner, secretly wondering about his obvious lack of interest in making conversation. The company was welcomed in her mind but she refused to move her eyes as she didn't want to watch him walk away.
'Don't leave…' Emiko pleaded silently, a dash of hope rising before it crashed to the melody of his footsteps walking away. 'Jerk…' she thought half-heartedly to herself, blinking as she felt minute drops of water tickle her skin. Looking around visible raindrops could be seen dropping softly to earth. It was gentle melody and Emiko managed a soft genuine smile at the sight.
"Nemuri-chan come on." Emiko's eyes fell on a huddled group of girls as they walked away from the building, hands held over their heads in an attempt to hide from the rain. Her thoughts became tainted as she studied their clothes, fashionable and pretty, something that flattered their forms as they made their giggling way past Emiko.
Each had a starved look of model proportions and perfection. Angered at their appearance Emiko wished to throw insults but restrained herself to instead try to find fault in the beautiful girls passing by.
'Why couldn't I be like that?' Emiko pondered as she pulled her legs to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs while her chin rested on her knees. 'With perfection? Instead of being tall and skinny. And pale. And with messy hair.' Emiko hated those girls who could get a boy's attention with a simply flirtatious glance. She knew she shouldn't. Sakura was like them, pretty and popular. So was Ino. Even Hinata was pretty when she wasn't hiding. But Emiko?
'Ha, I'm every guy's little sister.' She thought scornfully. Thunder clapped over head for her attention and she stared at the darkening sky like a child watched its beloved mother. Raindrops kissed her face, bringing a smile to her lips as they rolled softly over her face, washing away her jealousy. 'Be positive.' She promised herself as she allowed herself to lull half asleep in the comfort of the rain.
"You're wet." Emiko jumped from shock and landed on her back, feeling the immediate chill as the back of her shirt was soaked in rain. Sasuke's face came into view over hers, his eyes calm and serious as he looked down upon her.
"Now more than before thanks to you." Emiko replied before she stuck out her tongue and gingerly pushed herself to her feet. Sasuke stepped back and Emiko shifted as his black eyes surveyed the damage.
"You're going to get sick." He stated and Emiko sighed. 'It was worth it.' She thought to herself, half tempted to tell him such. Before she could say anything something warm grasped her hand and she felt Sasuke tug her away from the building towards their temporary home.
His hold was firm and Emiko followed quietly, not wanting to break the connection by speaking, it was comforting to feel the warmth in her hand something she didn't feel often. She stayed a step behind until they reached the house and Sasuke opened the door. Emiko stepped inside, feeling the faint chill as the Uchiha released her hand and closed the door behind her before he walked down the hall towards the boy's section.
'Arigatou.' She thanked him silently before removing her shoes and hurriedly making her way through the halls towards her room. Nearing the door she could hear yelling inside, the voices were recognizable and she instantly opened the door to see Sakura attempted to shove Naruto out backwards through the window. Naruto looked less than pleased as he desperately tried to plead with Sakura to stop.
"I have a wedgie!" Naruto yelled and Emiko strained a laugh at the look of plight upon his face. "Stop it Sakura-chan! It's raining outside!" Hearing the last sentence Emiko's imagination began to churn and she burst into laughter drawing pair's attention to her as she stood, hunched over from laughing, in the doorway.
"Emi-chan! Let me in! It's cold outside!" Naruto pleaded and Emiko fought for breath before managing to calm herself.
"Naruto! This is the girls section! If they catch you we could get disqualified!" Sakura yelled at the blonde's idiocy.
"Not if I don't get caught!" Naruto protested, his arms now folded over his chest and a steamed look on his face.
"We can't take that chance!" Sakura retorted furiously, making another attempt to shove Naruto back out the window. Emiko giggled, trying to reign in the laughter at the sight of Sakura hammering her shoulder into Naruto to try and force him out while Naruto tried to squirm his way back in. 'Sakura has a point though…'
"Both of you calm down or you're going to attract more attention!" Emiko commanded and the pair both fell silent. The door snapped shut behind her as she stepped into the room, setting her shoes aside while she peeled her sleeve from her arm. "Naruto you have to leave because-" she held up a hand to silence the blonde's obvious protests. "One. If we get caught we could get in a lot of trouble and we can't risk it and two, I need to change and I don't want to do that in front of you." A pout came to Naruto's face before he squirmed backwards.
"I'm stuck." Naruto grinned sheepishly before he shrugged dramatically. "So I guess you have to change later." 'Baka won't just give up.' Emiko thought. Her mind passed over ideas of what to do before she decided to bluff.
"Naruto I'm changing now." She stared at him stiffly and watched as the blonde's eye twitched. 'Geez Naruto thanks for the confidence boost.' Emiko scowled at the boy, waiting for him to leave the window space. "Now Naruto!" Her patience was wearing and she fidgeted under her wet shirt, feeling the uncomfortable twisting as it stuck to her skin.
"You're bluffing!" Naruto accused, pointing a shaking finger at the brunette. Emiko's eyes flickered to Sakura who nodded and raised a fist before punching Naruto in the face. Hard. The blonde popped out the window and Emiko sighed before Sakura locked the window and declared she was going to get food. Once the door was shut Emiko hastily peeled off her shirt and quickly grabbed a replacement just in time to hear the door open. Hastily she pulled the shirt over her head and shoved her arms through as the door opened to reveal Sasuke.
"What is it with all the boys!" Emiko practically yelled as she jerked the bottom of her shirt down to cover her stomach. "Why don't you knock! I was changing!" Onyx eyes locked with hers and she watched impatiently as the Uchiha seemed undisturbed by her outburst.
"Hn. Not like there would've been anything to see anyway." Sasuke commented dryly. Emiko face flushed before she grabbed a pillow and launched it at the Uchiha standing in her doorway. 'Jerk.' She thought absent-mindedly to herself as she tossed her wet shirt into her bag.
Suddenly something hit her in the side of her head causing her to topple to the ground with a quiet grunt. Glancing around her eyes landed on the pillow and she looked up to see Sasuke staring at her with…amusement?
"I hope someone, someday stabs you with a raisin." Emiko muttered darkly causing Sasuke to blink from surprise at the randomness of the statement. 'That's right! A raisin! A frickin' raisin! That's how you deserve to die!' Emiko yelled mentally at the dark haired teen.
"The dobe left a note saying to come here." Sasuke seemed to have finally decided to inform the world of the reason for his sudden arrival. Emiko raised a brow in suspicion and she shrugged finally.
"He was here…" She murmured aloud, glancing down at her hand as she remembered a warmth.
A loud crash broke their conversation and Emiko cringed as she heard a familiar loud voice.
"And he still is! Come on guys we're going to play a game." Naruto seemed oblivious to Emiko as she gradually tilted her head to gaze at the boy who had wedged himself in the room window for a second known time. The door opened and Sakura stood still, her mind failng to notice Sasuke as she glowered at the blonde.
"Baka! Stop breaking into our room! Pervert!" Naruto let out a small, surprisingly girlish squeak before he disappeared from the window as Sakura jumped after him with murderous intent. Emiko sighed, her head held in her hand as the sounds of Sakura and Naruto could be heard clearly through the now open window. 'This is going to be a long competition...'
A/n: heh, not as good as I wished it would be. At least, not the ending. That could've been better. Anyway, hope you enjoyed it. reviews are welcome, notes are welcome, oranges are welcome. Next chapter coming some other time! Thanks to Sailor Luna for your emails! They're always fun. .
-shyshi
