Hey everyone!

This is an extremely short, very bare-bones chapter, but that is because it is SUCH an important lesson that I don't want it blocked out by plot or sexytimes. Please, reread and reread this chapter, and if you have any questions, PM ME! This is a major downfall of English speakers everywhere, even those who speak it as a first language. I CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH how annoying it is to read a fanfiction that can't use these words the way they were meant to be used. So read it, copy and paste, ANYTHING you have to do to get it right.

I know that personally, nothing loses my attention more quickly than a fanfiction that says, "Sasuke went too Sakura's house."

SO IMPORTANT!

Americans Are Psychos

Sakura woke up just early enough to make it to her meeting with Bastard-sensei before class. Fortunately, there were no weird touches or lingering stares, this time—only general civility, as much as Madara could manage it, and lots of reviewing English vocabulary.

However, she found that this vocabulary was much more daunting than what she had read the day before. "Waist? Waste?" she demanded. "They're pronounced the exact same way. How is anyone supposed to even get the difference in general conversation?"

"Context, Sakura-san," Madara said idly. He wasn't even doing anything productive, she had noticed; he was just sitting in his chair, flipping through some fiction book. Well, it might have been fiction—Sakura didn't actually know what it was. She knew that it was in English, however.

Sakura huffed. "Well, I know, but-"

"The Chinese go off the same principles. A word out of context can mean something entirely different, even if it is the same kanji." Madara sounded bored, but at least he wasn't calling her stupid. She knew, however, that there was a limit to his patience.

Therefore, she read down the list of homophones with grudging silence.

Commonly Misused Words of the English Language

They're – conjunction for 'they are.' Example: They're going to the party.

Their – plural possessive. Example: Their dog is mean.

There – a place. Example: I'll meet you over there.

Two – the number 2. Example: There are two dogs.

To – a preposition. Example: She is going to the house.

Too – adverb that describes something excessive, or in addition to. Example 1: There are too many people here. Example 2: I think she's going with them, too.

Its – singular possessive. Example: The dog plays with its Frisbee.

It's – conjunction for 'it is.' Example: It's not going to be easy.

Sakura stared at the last two examples she had read accusingly. "What the hell?" she murmured to herself. "These Americans are crazy! Absolute psychos! This doesn't even-I can't-"

Madara looked up at her with mild concern, given that she was ranting under her breath. "Did you come across the 'it's' and 'its' conundrum?" he asked.

"It doesn't even make any sense!" Sakura cried, now ranting at a proper volume. "They're breaking their own rules! The apostrophe-s is supposed to show possession, but for 'it's' apparently, it stands for 'it is' and with 'its', no apostrophe-s, that's supposed to show possession! It doesn't make any goddamn sense!"

"Language, Sakura. You're still at school." Sakura managed to look properly cowed, even though she wasn't at all. Madara went on to explain, "English breaks its own rules from time to time. It is simply something you have to memorize, much like vocabulary. I find that if you remember 'it's' means 'it is,' then it is much easier to remember when to use the other. For example…"

He wrote down something on a spare piece of paper and then presented it to her. Sakura looked at it for a moment before giving him a questioning look. It said:

'I don't like playing with it's food.'

"What's wrong with that sentence?" he asked.

Sakura just shook her head, confused.

"Read it out loud, without the conjunctions."

Sakura complied, even though she thought this was stupid. "I do not like playing with it is food." And then, like a lightbulb, she understood. Perhaps it wasn't stupid, after all. It was just extremely condescending.

Madara nodded in a way that confirmed that this was an exercise of condescension before standing up and gathering his papers. "It's time for your classes. I'll see you in second period."

Sakura nodded and gathered up her own school supplies. So far, the time she spent with Madara hadn't been so bad, as it was more like tutoring than actually doing work. She had been right that he wasn't doing anything inappropriate the day before; he was just a little weird. However, she wasn't going to trust that thought, because if Madara sensed any sort of enjoyment or lack of terror on her part, he would undoubtedly up his game. God forbid anyone enjoy learning a new language.

After bowing to Madara politely, she left for class.

There shouldn't be much of a pause in updating next time because I already have the next chapter planned out. Entropy is the next to be updated, though!

Cheers!

(And please review!) :D