Lapsed Romance

-------------------------

A/N: Haha, thanks for the reviews guys! I'm glad you guys like the adding of Soi and Yoruichi. On wih the story!

Disclaimer: I own nothing. :D

------------------------

Chapter 2: Pink Hair

I could feel so much sweat dripping from my forehead all the way down my face.

As expected, we ended up playing volleyball. Now I'm here doing all of the work because my teammates are too scared to even touch the ball. And serves? Oh don't even get me started. It was horrible, not only were they not active, the team we're facing has two very good players. One of them being the green eyed girl Sakura, and the other being an extremely shy, raven haired girl. Sakura was rough and from what I've witnessed, she doesn't like losing. And Hinata, well that girl has the best reflexes I;ve seen in a girl my age.

For some reason, Soi Fong stopped playing 5 minutes ago. She was the only one on my team that actually helped me. Wiping some sweat off my forehead, I look around to see that both she and our teacher, whom I now have to call Shihoin, are gone.

"Ino-san! Get the ball!!" my teammate calls out. I look around me and chase after the ball. Once I caught up, I gave it a quick bump.

"Someone volley it over!" I yell desperately. If the opposing team got one more point, then game over for us.

Yuki, the tallest girl in our class, with glasses and dark green hair which is strangely natural, attempts to get into volleying position. Unfortunately, the girl is too late and gets knocked over when the ball hits her on the head.

"Whoa, are you okay!" I yell, not caring that we had just lost the second set.

"Yeah..." she answers, rubbing the spot where the ball landed, "Thanks for your concern."

I let oout a sigh as two people that I assumed to be her friends came over and consulted her. Tucking some of my blonode hair behind my ear, I see the other team celebrating their win.

"That was a good bump," came a voice from behind me. It came out of no where, so I jumped at the sound of the voice.

Frowing, i turn around to meet the eyes of soi Fong, "Thanks...But where were you?" I ask out of curiousity, "Maybe we would've gotten that point."

She gave me a confusing expression. I couldn't help but tilt my head in wonder. She quickly shook off the look wihich startled me a bit, but I simply let out a sigh as her face returned to its normal state.

"Just somewhere," she replied. It was so convincing that she wasn't suspicious at all. I gave up as soon as she started to walk away.

"Good job everyone!" Yoruichi calls out with a thumbs up. I wave good bye to her and hesitate for a second. It was time to change...

--------

After becoming so nervous that my teeth started chattering; I became the baby I didn't want to become and changed inside the washroom. With a swift wipe of my body with my towel, a quick spray of deodorant, and stuffing of gym stuff into bags, I rush out of the changeroom and move to the third floor where my locker and next class was.

Since 'Yamanaka' started with a 'Y', my locker was all the way up here on the second floor. Since I had quite the amount of time before my next class, I simply focused my eyes on the number. Unfortunately, my carelessness was rewarded.

"Ah!" came a vaguely familiar voice. I had crashed into someone, so I tore my eyes away from the many numbers to find the pink haired one on the ground.

"Y-You..." I mutter out of shock. Now her name was Sakura, I found that out pretty quickly. She had pink hair that reached her shoulders, and green eyes that were simply captivating. She also recalls me. It pissed me off how angry she was for me not remembering her. Like geeze, it's been what, ninie years since pre-school?!

She shot me a glare before her eyes softened. I was taken a back from her expression and completely forgot that she was on the floor. Reaching out my hand, I offered help.

"Thanks," she replies with a harsh tone.

As soon as she got up, I shot her a glare of my own, "Now listen here Sakura. It's been a long time since pre-school, and I'm sorry, but I just don't remember you!"

I was proud of myself; I wasn't ashamed to speak my mind. But I felt a little uneasy, and her face became unreadable. It felt like so long, but for a few seconds she was staring at me. I couldn't move, my eyes were glued onto hers. My head spinning, trying to read what was on her mind.

The next moment just threw me off entirely. I dropped my gym items, and my arms were incased within hers. Trying to move myself, I found that her grip was firm.

"S-Sakura?" I called out, confusion clearly in my voice. But the pink haired one didn't respond at all. Her hug was firm, surprising, but to be honest, it was so warm. It was so warm and comforting, I couldn't help but just put my arms around the girl as well.

The embrace held out for the next two minutes. Thank goodness the hallway was empty. I could feel myself blushing at the action, and I started to feel a little awkward.

"Sakura?" I called out again, removing my own grip from her, hoping she would as well.

"Sorry," she says, finally removing her arms from my body. "I'm sorry for acting so pissed Ino..."

I shook my head, "No it's okay. It was just surprising," I had to be honest with the girl. I gave her my best almost-fake smile. She returned it with a much sweeter one.

"I'll see you later then," she replies, "Unless..."

"English," I quickly respond.

"Oh, I have math next."

We stare at each other for a couple of seconds, I could feel myself shake a bit.

"3a?" We both mutter at once.

"Haha, I'll see you then!" she yells in response. I give her another smile, this time with a bit more emotion.

"I'll see you then..." I mutter before opening my locker.

As I shove everything I don't need inside, I hear footsteps again. I wonder if it's another girl from my gym class.

"Hey," I hear.

Closing my locker, and shutting it with my lock, I face the owner of the voice.

"Oh hey Soi Fong," I greet, a mix of happiness and surprise on my pale face.

"What is your next class?" she asks, that sense of professionalism in her tone.

"English, you?"

"English as well, with Mitarashi-sensei."

"Me too," I respond. The smaller girl gives me a smile. I couldn't help but smile back, it was something I haven't seen before, and it made her look absolutely adorable.

"Shall we walk to class together?" she asks politely. I give her a nod and as soon as she's done with everything, we begin our walk.

-----------

Our teacher was very...Interesting. Luckily, we got to choose who we wanted to sit next to, and I chose Soi Fong since she didn't seem like the chattering type. Right now we had to write down our name, hobbies, birthday, and old school to present in front of the class. I had finished pretty quickly and was glancing around at my classmates, none whom I recognized.

One boy stood out a lot. His hair was spikey and golden, and at this very moment, he was arguing with the teacher. I let out a smirk seeing an annoyed, raven haired, spikey back haired boy sitting next to the loud blonde.

"BUT MITARASHI-SENSEI!!! I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY OLD SCHOOL WAS CALLED!!" I couldn't help but laugh a little, it didn't help when the boy with red markinigs under his eyes was laughing his own ass off.

"Naru-chan," she had a nickname for the boy already, "How can you not know the name of your old school?"

"IT'S HARD TO REMEMBER!!" he yells in response.

"Loser, our old school was called Konoha Junior High," the raven haired one said, his eyes rolling, a hand underneath his right cheek.

Both the teacher and Naruto shoot the boy a glare, "WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SO BEFORE?!" the two yell, causing the whole class to stare now.

The boy didn't respond and simply wrote down something on his paper.

"SASUKE YOU BASTARD!!" Naruto yells, his fist ready to fly. But Mitarashi-sensei caught it.

"Violence is not the answer...Unfortunately," I felt a shiver go down my spine at that 'unfortunately'. I better not get on her bad side.

"Are you finished Ino?" came Soi Fong from my right. We were on the opposite end of the class from the shouting blonde, and Soi was the one against the wall.

"Yeah, you?" I ask, quickly turning back at the scene for any development.

"Yes," she replies simply, placing her pen on her desk.

"Today's english is going to be interesting, isn't it?" I ask, resting my head on my desk.

"I believe so," she replies nearly monotonously. I let out a sigh, and watch as the teacher and the blonde continue their fight.

-------

Presenting in front of the class wasn't so bad. I found out that the laughing boy's name was Kiba, and that he had a thing for dogs. Another student that stood out to me was a boy named Shikamaru. He had this lazy look going on, and he had the best facial expressions. Not that I have any sort of interest in him romantically, he stood out to me for some reason.

Apparently, becoming a ninja is Naruto's 'hobby'. I guess training and learning about that stuff would count as a hobby, but who would want to become a ninja?! That kid probably has watched too much anime in his life.

That Sasuke guy is part of the Uchiha clan. Their family is the richest in our city of Konoha. I can't believe I didn't recognize him, he kind of looks like his older brother Itachi, the heir to the Uchiha clan's company.

Soi Fong's hobby caught me off guard. Apparently, she likes to volunteer at this school a lot, and she considers it a hobby. Maybe she and Yoruichi have a closer relationship than I thought...And maybe that's why her persona so far seems so far from childish. Then again, I kind of expected it...

Me? Well my hobbies revolve around flowers. Arranging them, taking care of them, I even help my mom run the shop! It's good for when I need money.

I didn't really pay attention to anything but everyone's names. The rest of the class came in notes. Notes of grammar with the most interesting and crappy looking drawings supplied by an older student named Rukia. After copying down a couple of points, there was a comic clad with horrible drawings of bunnies. Apparently this Rukia is in grade 11. I wonder if I'll ever get to meet her.

-------

After class, I bid farewell to Soi Fong who had Geography next instead of lunch. Strangely enough though, we have Science together last period. She isn't someone I'd consider a friend though, just someone whom I can stand talking to.

That Naruto and Sasuke sure are characters. On my way downstairs, I can hear them arguing. Shaking my head, I ignore the pair and walk into the cafeteria, bustling with students. Finding an empty spot near the wall, I take a seat and pull out my lunch.

After getting halfway through my sandwich, my eyes catch a glimpse of pink once again. Turning my head, I watch as Sakura and her friends come towards my direction. Now the girl was pretty, but there was one thing that I just noticed that caused me to burst out into laughter.

The girl's forehead was big!

---------------

A/N: Haha, I really wanted to update this one before Aishiteru. But that comes next! Review guys:D