A/n: okay fine so I couldn't hold up the threat. I guess I like posting up the story more than any reviews...xP But I still want some! I want to know if there are things I should improve on or what I could do better. Anyway, enjoy this isn't about 11:52 but more between Naruto and Emi-chan.

-shyshi

"Pride sullies the noblest character."-Claudianus

The sidewalks were damp, scattered raindrops still falling to dot the ground while those outside slowed their pace in the light rain. Outside the residency building, standing quietly on the bridge spanning over the quaint pond stood a quiet Emiko, her arms on the railing of the bridge and leaning forward to study the water below. Not many of the competitors were out, their rooms seeming more comfortable as they spent their time with friends while the storm clouds continued to flash and drum idly with the wind.

Scents of the fading rain wafted gently through the air and Emiko closed her eyes, taking a full breath of the atmosphere. The wood creaked as she shifted on her feet. Breaking from her bliss she rested her cheek on her palm, thoughts dancing through her mind as she followed the fish in the pond with a dazed interest.

'What's going on?' She let out a sigh and allowed her forehead to softly thud onto the wooden railing. 'This is all so confusing!' As if in response her hand tingled, almost imitating the warmth it had formerly felt when a familiar Uchiha had grasped it.

'11:52…' She thought to herself. 'What's with the random time? Midnight would be a lot more romanti-' She stopped, softly tapping her head to jumble the thoughts from her head. 'This is so aggravating!' A low growl rumbled in the back of her throat, almost expressing her annoyance and agitation at what had become of her life. 'I can't actually like him…right?' To her increased emotional stress her hand twitched, curling with its pair in an imitation of how their hands had combined.

Her head swirled in flurries of emotions each as confusing as the last one, none of them willing to peacefully reconcile inside her while she tried to refute any statement her thoughts pushed forward. 'Do I…like him?'

"I'm screwed." Emiko muttered, desperately trying to pull her hands apart although it seemed her body had disconnected from her orders. 'It's not as comfortable as when Sasuke held my hand.' Emiko groaned profusely at her sudden inability to control herself.

"Are you okay?" Emiko jerked upright and felt her gaze lock with bright sapphire eyes. A warm smile rose to her lips as she watched Naruto grin and stand beside her, leaning against the railing while watching the fish with honest happiness.

"Hai…just a little confused is all." She professed honestly as she copied his movements and stared at the ripples shaking the water's surface with grace. Time ticked away carelessly, both enjoying the others company.

"What are you confused about?" Finally the blonde asked, turning his head so he could see the brunette beside him, her eyes never leaving the water as she exhaled. 'What do I tell him?' Naruto had always been someone who had been able to comfort her and make her laugh; the idea of him becoming upset worried her. They'd been friends for too long for someone as trivial as Sasuke to break them apart. Yet, she worried it would. 'I can't loose him.' She promised before tilting her gaze to Naruto.

"I'm afraid I might like someone." She couldn't keep his gaze for long as she swiftly looked to the railing, her fingers entwining in front of her.

"Is it Sasuke-tori?" His tone was dark and serious, suggested with pain that forced Emiko to lock her eyes onto her hands.

"Sasuke-tori?" Chuckling, Emiko gathered herself enough to glimpse the boy beside her. His eyes were straight ahead and Emiko felt her stomach drop from existence at the guise in his eyes. Not void of emotion but rather burdened with it, with disappointment and a sense of unbridled anger as he attempted to burn a hole into the pond. Hearing her question the tips of his lips twitched into a small smile before his eyes cloaked in happiness and he grinned.

"Hai! Since he has such a weird haircut!" The smile faltered yet Emiko couldn't help but chuckle at the reasoning. Just as swiftly as the moment had come it fled, leaving them both in a somber silence.

"It's Sasu-jerk isn't it?" Her heart fell to join her stomach in an abyss and she found herself furiously shaking her head while forcing a giggle from her mouth. 'Lie.'

"Why would you think that?" Emiko almost whipped her forehead in relief as her voice never cracked to display the thoughts caked behind the lie.

"Because every girl likes him." Naruto replied solemnly. "Sakura-chan likes him and he doesn't even like her." His brow knitted in apparent anger as he refused to stop staring at the water.

'And he likes her,' Emiko pondered, wondering why her pink haired friend hadn't ever noticed the kind blonde waiting eagerly for her to return his affection. 'Although Hinata had a small crush on him not too long ago. I don't know if she still does though…' She allowed the idea to drift and fade from focus.

"Iie." The familiar furling of nerves and conscious was forcibly shoved away as she strained to maintain her light tone. 'It's not lying if it's true.' She found even her most desperate self not believing her thoughts. 'I can't…like him. Iie.'

Hearing the response the atmosphere clearly brightened, the aromas of the gently falling rain returning in a comforting blanket around the two friends. Beside her Emiko could practically see a second sun shining from Naruto's glee.

"Who then!" He hopped onto the bridge's railing and laughed as he noticed heat rise to Emiko's face. He couldn't restrain the urge to tease her as he let out a long cooing noise to efficient cause Emiko to glower and tint rosily. 'Damn it I hate it when he does that.' She playfully shoved his arm.

"Not telling. And I'm not even sure if I like him so ha." Emiko shuddered as she released a long hallow breath, refusing to acknowledge Naruto's fox like grin.

"Well why do you think you might like him?" Naruto chose another approach to his long awaited teasing opportunity. Her eyes trained on a small fish darting up for air, softening her gaze she smiled and turned up to Naruto.

"Things just remind me of him." She wondered if that made sense and under Naruto's confused expression she decided to continue. "And," She paused, wondering how she would explain the foreign thoughts when she herself barely could decipher their meaning. "I enjoy being around him. He held my hand earlier." Her fingers traced over the curves of her hand before moving as though to wash away the feeling. "And my heart kind of skipped. I didn't want him to let go." Once again Naruto beamed before jumping down and slinging his arm over her shoulders.

"Emi-chan has a crush!" He cheerfully proclaimed in a sing song voice causing Naruto to quickly seal his loud mouth with her hand, the heat rising at break neck speed to her face.

"Naruto! Shut up!" Even covered she could feel him laughing into her hand before she rolled her eyes and pulled away, turning from the blonde to express her annoyance.

"Oh come on Emi-chan. It's okay." Naruto comforted her as he once again wrapped his arm playfully around her shoulders, jostling her as a brother would. "Now you can finally get a boyfriend after rejecting all those guys!" The surprising upbeat melody of his voice was overshadowed by an ironic clap of thunder over head causing the pair to look to the shrouded skies with raised brows.

Emiko was the first to laugh as she shoved Naruto away. "Maybe it's a sign." She joked causing the blonde to scratch his head.

"Well I think it's funny that you like someone." Emiko rolled her eyes once again at the statement, desperately trying to reign in her smile. 'He's such a little kid.'

"How so?" Emiko murmured as he rejoined her against the railing, this time the pair leaning their back against it while Emiko crossed her arms before her.

"Because now I can tease you!" Naruto declared with a wide grin, ducking just in time to avoid Emiko's hand as she tried to smack the back of his head.

"Baka, I'm not going to do anything about it." Emiko realized a quick topic change was in order and she quickly filed through ideas before selecting something adequate. "Anyway you should be more focused on Sakura and Sasuke." At this determination flew into Naruto's blue eyes and he nodded resolutely. Her lips turned into a grin before she ruffled her fingers through his hair.

"Emi-nee-chan-" Naruto's nose scrunched as he stepped away shuffling his hand through his hair.

"Nee-chan?" Emiko chuckled as she noticed Naruto's eyebrows rose in a pleading motion. 'He looks like a lost puppy that way.' Emiko thought as she noticed how perfected his begging look could be.

"You're the closest thing I have to a sister although you're more like a mother-" Emiko feigned indignation, her hand clutching the section of shirt above her heart as she took a step back.

"I'm hurt! Are you calling me old!" She pretended to be insulted although found it steadily more difficult as she tried to refrain from laughing as the color dropped from Naruto's face. 'Either I'm a good actress or he's not noticing I'm playing.' Emiko pondered the thought quietly before she grinned to reassure Naruto she wasn't truthfully angry or upset.

"Why won't you do anything when you like someone?" Emiko cringed as she heard the question, her hope of evading the subject stumbling until it shattered on the bridge.

"Simple. Friends before love. Always." She declared monotonously, her voice slightly unsettling as her eyes were whipped blank of any emotion. Naruto shifted on his feet.

"Always?" He questioned, his tone not to be mistaken for surprise but it was rather hope that he had heard wrong. 'I'm not going to be another girl. And I'm not going to loose friends over a boy.' As if set in stone Emiko finalized the pact, her stubbornness beginning to set in as she stared with full fledged determination at a tree in the distance.

In the back, hidden cavern of her thoughts she knew it wasn't just to protect her friendships but more out of fear and hatred for herself.

'I can't. I won't be another one of those girls.' She promised, a small sense of despair pecking at her heart, peeling the muscle apart as it beat in her chest. 'I'm throwing away another opportunity…But I won't be another girl.' The idea threaded needles through her lungs. To think of possibly throwing away another opportunity at love she'd always wished for while watching aged couples.

Yet she knew it was finalized. Just as the blonde standing beside her, his eyes fringed with worry and sadness, knew it. Now, more for her pride and foolish spite she swore to never back down on those words.

"Always."