(AN) Ok… This must be addressed. Now, I don't know what your ships are, but I do know what mine are. So, I'm going to go with what I know. Yes, this means that the side relationships with be not so randomly decided by me-because I'm writing this. This doesn't mean I'm against your ships it's just that I like mine more… Except you guys can suggest ships for Sasuke because I will be perfectly honest, I don't ship him with anyone! I know I know, but I just don't ship Sasusaku because I can't really see the chemistry. So, to cut it short, all the side ships are up to me, except who Sasuke ends up with is up for grabs. And, and I know a lot of you will find this fun… I'm more than willing for a yaoi… yeah, so have fun~!
Misora Asuka: Thank you~. I do love AOT so I couldn't help it, and also in Itachi's defense... he's not that good at reading emotions :P.
Guest: Haha~ Don't worry, there's nothing to writing comments (I'm really ok with almost anything except a request for nude pics). Thanks and I hope you can continue enjoying. :)
Melissa Fairy: Thank you, so's your profile pic. ;)
"Haru-chan, are you ok?"
It was the soft spoken voice that shot Haruka out of her daze. She gave her mind a mental slap and turned to face her friend with as much of a smile as she could muster. "Yeah, I'm just fine, Hinata-chan." To help the act a bit more, Haruka ate up a piece of her teriyaki chicken with a smile on her face.
Hinata still looked at her with concern as she picked at her own bento. "It's just that you've been seeming a little zoned out lately. Is everything alright."
Haruka stared down at her food for a moment-contemplating her thoughts-and just sighed while slumming back into her seat. "I guess I'm having trouble adjusting back at home. You know, what with...it it being a little more crowded."
"Oh!" Haruka watched Hinata's eyes go wide with realization, and then fall back down out of guilt.
'She knows I don't like talking about him.' She thought to herself, just a little bit more grateful despite her not being able to tell her why.
Haruka just put on another smile and began eat her food-willing herself to not think about it. "But anyways, how was your date with Naruto?"
She tried to hold in a laugh at the way Hinata's face suddenly went bright red, and how her oddly colored eyes widened into two big orbs. "IIIIIIIIT WASN'T A DDDDATE!"
Haruka was glad they were sitting on the roof-far from anyone else-so that no one else could witness Hinata's reaction to Haruka's teasing. "You went to the movies didn't you?"
Hinata began looking more and more flustered, but her voice switched to being quietly embarrassed. "Y-Yes, b-but Neji-nii, Kiba-san, and Tenten-san also went." Haruka could hear the hint of disappointment in her soft voice-making her wish that Neji didn't invite himself along when he heard her and Sasuke couldn't make it to their four person trip.
Haruka played with her chopsticks for a moment until she looked back up at Hinata-who was blushing mad while staring down at her bento. "...Do you ever plan to tell him?"
This, of course, caused Hinata to jump, but she relaxed soon enough-her eyes still down. "I...I don't know if I-"
SLAM!
"Haru-chan~!"
Haruka flinched at the sound of the roof door slamming open, and then mentally groaned when she realized who it was. So, to get it all over with, she turned to face the blonde walking toward her-with a slight skip in her step. "Isn't Haruno-san supposed to be with you?" She didn't speak harshly, but she didn't speak friendly either. This is because she didn't hate this girl, but she didn't like the reason she usually bugged her.
Ino, in response just kept smiling with a slight sly as she walked over to the two lone girls. "Sakura-chan caught a little cold today, so she's out sick right now."
"That so? Well give her my condolences, bye." Haruka went back to eating her rice-hoping she'd try to take the hint.
But, of course, Ino just gave a slight pout with her hands to her hips. "Hey, don't be so rude! I just wanted to ask you something." That sly smile of hers just came right back up as she looked down to Haruka.
Who, was actually just trying to make this daily occurance go by faster. "For the last time Ino, I'm not going to help you get closer to Sasuke." She tried not to sound annoyed, but the tiredness was as clear as day.
Ino, to Haruka's surprise, didn't pout, frown, nor did her smile fade in the slightest-something that typically happens at this point of the conversation. "Don't worry, I'm not here for that-today. Actually, I'm here because I wanted to clarify a certain little thing." Haruka raised a brow at the blonde as she leaned in a little with a hand cupping a side of her mouth. "Is it true that your older brot-"
SLAM!
Once again the door was slammed open, and everyone's eyes immediately flew to look-giving Haruka a moment to breathe. Standing at the doorway was a slightly sweaty Sasuke who glared directly at Ino.
"Oi, Yamanaka, Sensei's looking for you." As he spoke coldly Haruka could feel the annoyance spilling out of him like a broken dam.
Ino, suddenly stiffened up, just smiled nervously at Sasuke. "I-Is that so? W-Well I guess that's my cue to leave. See you, Haru, Hinata." And with that she paced out the door, and Sasuke closed it right behind her-with more force than Haruka would prefer.
As Sasuke walked back over to them, Haruka didn't hold back to give him a disapproving look. "Don't bee too harsh with her Sasuke, she was only curious."
He just scoffed as he took his seat against the fence. "Nosy more like." And he gave her that look that said it was to help her, and he knew she was grateful.
Haruka just sighed aloud as she continued to eat her bento.
"Sasuke-kun, didn't you pack a bento?" Hinata asked him with that typical worry of hers.
Haruka looked up and watched Sasuke's eyes go to her, and, with a heavy heart, watched his cheeks lightly tint with red. "I didn't have time to make one this morning." Haruka felt a bit guilty-even though she knew Sasuke wouldn't blame her-because it was her rushing to leave the house first chance she had that had them both leaving earlier.
Hinata's worried look only grew when she heard this, and Haruka noticed her eyes look down at her bento for a moment. For Sasuke's own good, before Hinata had the chance to offer her food, Haruka pulled out some money she kept in her jacket. "Here, go buy yourself something to eat, we have practice later so you need to eat."
He just looked at her the same way she would look at him, gratitude. "Thanks, Haru." He just took the money and began getting back up to his feet.
"Um, Sasuke-kun?" Hinata's shy voice piped in, the voice that usually meant she had a certain blonde in mind. Haruka saw that Sasuke noticed this, and slightly stiffened up. He didn't say anything, but Hinata knew him too well to know that this just meant she may continue. "Do… Do you know where N-Naruto-kun i-is?"
Haruka stared directly at the back of her beloved twin brother-already aware of the expression on his face. She felt immense pity for him as he just stood there-seemingly thinking about the answer.
"...Him and the others got in trouble again, so Iruka-sensei is holding them in for lunch-the idiots."
Hinata's expression fell, and she looked down at her bento with a disappointed look. "Th-That so…?"
Sasuke stood there for a moment longer before finally walking out the door-too lost in thought to close it on his way out.
Haruka stared at the opened door a little longer before deciding to just leave it open-it's not snowing or anything. She looked back to a down Hinata. 'She was planning to tell him today?' "...Hey, Hinata, have you seen the new episode of Durarara X2 yet?" Haruka said with a big smile-deciding it best to just change to topic.
Hinata perked up, and looked back up at her, and eventually her small smile came back to her lips. "Uh huh. It was very nice."
"It was wasn't it, I was really surprised when…"
And the conversation went on and on, but even as Haruka enjoyed her talk with one of her few female friends she couldn't get her thoughts on her younger brother.
Sasuke was the only person that knew about her… feelings, just as she was the only one that knew about his own. That was probably how it worked well with them. They both had their own problems with their emotions, and they both knew that it was all a dead end. Sasuke has been in love with the same girl since he met her in kindergarten, but she's been hopelessly in love with their knucklehead friend. Haruka has been in love with the same boy since she could understand what it meant to love, but… that.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
"You were off today."
Haruka looked over at Sasuke as they slowly walked back home. "Was I? I thought I was ok, I did beat Shikamaru."
"You're stronger than him physically wise."
"...I guess."
"Was it still about-"
"Yes…"
They walked in silence. It wasn't uncomfortable-silences wasn't uncomfortable with them. But she felt more pressure than she would prefer. Haruka had hoped that after some time the pressure she felt whenever she went home would weigh less after enough time, but-of course-she wasn't allowed that.
Every time she walks into her own home she has to be on guard from spending too much time anywhere near him… 'Am I allowed to just move out at sixteen?'
"Haru," Haruka snapped out of it and looked back up to see their home, "do you want me to go in first?"
She just stared as he opened the gate to their house. Her grip slightly tightened on her school bag. "Yeah."
"Alright."
They walked up the large front yard-passing the koi fish pond, cherry blossoms, and small bridges-up to their front door.
Once they got to it, Sasuke opened the door, walked in, and Haruka stalked closely behind.
As she took off her shoes she just tried thinking about her homework that needs to get done toni-
"Oh, Sasuke, Haruka." She flinched-as she was putting on her slippers.
But, thankfully, Sasuke almost immediately blocked him from her view. "We're back, Nii-san."
"Welcome back. Oto-san and Oka-san are out today, Oto-san had a business dinner so-"
"I'll be in my room." 'Follow the drill Follow the drill'
She walked past the both of them-willing herself to not take a peek.
"Dinner's ready at nine Haruka."
'We all know I'm not going.' She thought with a hungry stomach.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
'I wish she'd at least eat properly.' Itachi thought with worry as he watched his sister pace down the hall toward the stairs.
"Nii-san." He snapped out of his thoughts and looked down at his younger brother, and, on reflex, gave him a smile. "I'll bring Haru her dinner later."
Itachi wanted to eat dinner with all three of them-he really did-but he knew he couldn't fighting her stubbornness. "Thank you. I'm making her favorite, curry." He wanted to see the way her eyes just lit up when she ate his special curry.
Sasuke just stared at him a little longer-already expecting what Itachi was going to ask next.
"Sasuke, can you tell me about your guys' day today?"
In response, he just nodded at him, and they walked the opposite direction of Haruka to sit in their living room.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
"She got top of her class again?" Itachi smiled, remembering how hard she studies.
"Yeah, but she just said that if Shikamaru actually tried he would have made it instead. Honestly, she complains too much."
Itachi just chuckled a bit. "She's just modest. Though, there wouldn't be anything wrong with her bragging now and again."
"It is Haru."
"How was the martial arts club?"
"The usual. Haru was a little off today, but she still beat every practice match today." Sasuke picked up his oolong tea and drank some more.
"'Off'? How come?" 'Is it because of me again?' A weight of guilt fell on him at the thought.
Sasuke just stared down at him cup for a split moment, but acted completely normal again the next. "I think she's just been having trouble sleeping lately."
Itachi didn't blame Sasuke for lying. He knew he was just trying to help Haruka hide her feelings.
He just went back to asking more questions about how their day went.
Itachi enjoyed these moments. He couldn't talk to Haruka about her day-of course-but this was the closest he could get to hearing about what she's been up to. He loved to hear about Sasuke's day to-he is his precious younger brother-but there was a certain thing he loved hearing about how Haruka's been up to that made him happy.
His precious little sister was really turning into young lady.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
"Kimi wa oujo boku wa meshitsukai
Unmei wakatsu aware na futago…"
'And… That's it.' Haruka let out a big breath of air as she put down her pencil, and leaned back into her swivel chair.
She just listened to the music quietly as she faintly thought of nothing in particular.
'...Maybe I should start Assassination Classroom. Naruto keeps bugging me about that one for a while.'
KNOCK KNOCK
Haruka looked over to her door and felt her heart leap uncomfortably.
"Haru, I'm leaving your food out here."
She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding in. "Okay…"
Haruka listened to his footsteps as they trailed down the hall to his own room, and she got out of her seat to slowly walk to her door. She opened her door quietly, and looked down at the plate left for her.
'...His curry…' Her lips pressed together hard as she just picked up the plate and chopsticks, and made her way back inside.
She placed the food down onto the small table in the center of her room, and took a seat down on her zabuton. For the longest time she just stared down at the plate, and tried to throw away any happy memories threatening to play over in her head. She didn't want to think about when he made it for her when she was sick, when she was sad, or just to make her happy.
'...Maybe I'll spend the night at Hinata's tomorrow.'
(AN) I just wanted to say to anyone that has noticed, yes, yes I do like slipping in things about other shows. It's just fun~. Also, can anyone guess what song Haruka's listening to~?