Does no one read ANs anymore? But with the kind of reviews I got, I might just have to reevaluate some of my decisions regarding pairings…

Also, I've always had an issue with pacing, so I'd really appreciate any comments on how fast or slow you think this story is going? Especially since this is where the twist comes in.

Serendipity
Chapter Two

It was lucky that she had finished her work earlier in the library, because Sakura could feel herself getting drowsier by the minute.

She leaned her forehead against the cold glass of her window, eyes itching with tiredness, and spun the wheel of her iPod, hoping the increase in volume would help to wake her. No such luck.

Sakura brushed her fingers over the soft fabric of Kiba's scarf. She had forgotten to give it back to him, and she was thankful for it – it was the only thing keeping her from freezing. Why did she never remember her jacket?

Maybe she wasn't getting enough Vitamin D, she reasoned. Or iron. Or something.

As she walked down the aisle at her stop, she glanced at Sasuke, sitting near the front of the bus, staring out the window, earphones in. She wondered what he was listening to on his iPod. Screamo? Rap? Alternative?

But then she shook her head. It didn't really matter. She firmly averted her gaze from him and made her way down the steps, up the sidewalk, and into her apartment, where she barely managed to wash her face and change into her pajamas before she drooped off to bed, falling deeply asleep almost the moment her head hit the pillows.

Sakura slept soundly through the night, barely waking the next morning, and rubbed at her eyes blearily in the sunlight pouring through the window above her bed. She must have been really tired – she had never slept so deeply before.

Somehow, she managed to make her way to the bathroom, thoughts of her Developmental Psychology lecture the only thing keeping her from going back to bed. Maybe she was a bit dorky, but she really enjoyed that class – nothing could make her skip.

Ino's bedroom door was closed – she had probably come in sometime during the night. She didn't have a class until noon, and who knew when she had gotten home, so Sakura let her sleep. She made herself a strawberry Pop-Tart and coffee, then slipped silently out the door and into the bright sunlight.

-x-

There was something weird going on.

Everywhere she went, Sakura felt herself getting double takes. She didn't understand it – was something on her face? Between her teeth? On her clothes? She ducked into the washroom several times between classes, but she didn't see anything amiss with her appearance. In fact, she thought she looked a fair bit better than usual – her hair was bouncier, her smile brighter, her cheeks rosier. Maybe last night's sleep had helped.

So she brushed off the stares and odd smiles she received. Maybe it was because there weren't bags under her eyes for once.

But when even Ino looked at her strangely, Sakura threw her hands up in the air, finally exasperated.

"What is wrong with you people today?" she grumped, adjusting her grip on her coffee. They were in the library, sitting together at a table in the group study area. Even here, Sakura could feel curious gazes on her, and she fought the urge to cover her face.

"You look… different," Ino said slowly, appraising her. "Good."

"That is a shocker," Sakura said dryly, unloading the books from her bag.

Ino laughed. "No, you're always pretty." Sakura felt her heart swell with love for her best friend. She knew she kept Ino around for a reason. "You just look really good today. I don't know."

Sakura blinked. That was it? Then she shrugged. She didn't really see it. "So how'd your paper go?"

"Fine. Shikamaru's pretty smart." Then, Ino leered at her, and Sakura squirmed. "But that's not important. What's this I hear about you and Kiba?"

Sakura tapped her pen against her notebook, leaning back in her chair. She was silent for a moment, and Ino was practically salivating. Finally, she said: "God, word travels fast in this school."

Ino rolled her eyes. "That's it? Details, Forehead!"

"I told you to stop calling me that," Sakura hissed, eyes very wide. She glanced around to see if anyone had heard. "God, that's just what I need, an even lower rating—"

Sakura stopped suddenly, green gaze locking with a dark one belonging to a boy she had never met. He was staring very intently at her, as his friend pored through the books on the shelves on either side of them. They were standing in an aisle of books, a table between them and Sakura and Ino.

As she watched, the dark-eyed boy nudged his friend and nodded towards her. the other boy looked her way, and she dropped her gaze, suddenly nervous. All the attention was getting to be too much. Sakura felt more and more uncomfortable by the minute.

So she tried to ward off Ino's questioning – but soon found herself looking back at the pair of boys. They didn't seem to notice her, but they were drawing closer, eyeing her every so often, and when they were only a few feet away, Sakura could hear their voices clearly.

"See her?"

"She is hot. So is her friend."

"Blonde's a definite nine."

"So is pinky."

They passed Sakura with identical, cheeky grins, and she felt her cheeks warm for two reasons: one, she hated when people called her pinky (was there no other way to describe her?); and two, she was a nine. Not only was the score itself inexplicably high – especially after two years of constant fives – but she was on the same level as Ino, her flawlessly beautiful best friend.

Ino didn't seem to have noticed the rating. She was staring impatiently at Sakura. "What's up with you?"

"Hm? Nothing, sorry." She cracked open a textbook. "What were you saying?"

"Me? I wasn't saying anything. You're supposed to be telling me about Kiba." Ino grinned suddenly. "I heard he gave you a ten?"

Sakura snapped her gaze up to Ino, shocked. "How did you hear that?"

Ino laughed. "I have my sources. Someone heard him rate you, told his friends in fourth year, one of those friends told his girlfriend in second year, who told her cousin, who was talking about it before my Forensics lecture."

"So, of course, it must be true."

Ino stuck her tongue out. "Just tell me!" She was whining now, and Sakura laughed.

"I prefer to watch you squirm. Anyway, it wasn't a big deal," she said with a shrug. "After I left you to chum it up with your new best friend Shikamaru—" Ino flicked a pen cap at her—"I met him in the bookstore, we went for coffee, and some idiots rated me."

Ino winced. "In front of him?"

Sakura nodded. "I know," she said. "He probably just wanted to make me feel better, or something? I was kinda mad at him."

"That, or he likes you!" Ino squealed, barely able to contain her glee. "You know, Kiba like, never rates girls."

"Well, he shouldn't," Sakura pointed out, hardly impressed. But Ino's words made her pause. Maybe everyone was staring at her because of Kiba's rating? Granted, it was a ridiculous notion, but it was more likely than everyone staring at her because she had had a straight nine hours of sleep.

Ino returned to her books, but not before she said, "Watch. You're going to be the new It Girl of Konoha U now."

With a laugh, Sakura uncapped her highlighter. "Right. That'll be the day."

Ino exaggerated everything, and always had. One nine was nothing to lose her head over, after all. Her upcoming Bio exam was much more important right now.

And yet, as the day wore on, Biology and Calculus and Chemistry were the furthest things from her mind. When Sakura went for coffee, she noticed at least seven people staring at her. When she was waiting for lecture to begin, the guys in front of her turned to check her out, quite blatantly. When she was walking to Sarutobi Hall, she had another two ratings – a seven and an eight.

This had gone from strange to downright creepy.

She wondered what had happened to the student population at Konoha U – but even the staff were giving her strange looks today. It made no sense. Was it really Kiba's influence? Sakura didn't believe that.

But as if on cue, Kiba appeared at her side, just as she was tossing out her empty coffee cup.

"And I was just about to ask you to have one with me."

"Coffee? I'm always up for another," she said, turning to look at him.

He grinned and told her, "You drink too much coffee."

"Why does everyone keep telling me that?" She stared up at him for a second, wondering if she should ask him about everything that had been going on around her all day. After all, if it was Kiba's rating had started this, maybe he knew how to make it stop? All the attention was starting to get to her.

She hesitated for a split-second – then changed her mind and instead reached into her bag to draw out his neatly folded scarf. "Sorry, I took this with me yesterday."

"That was the plan," he said, not moving to take the scarf from her. "Did it help?"

That strange glint she had seen the night before was back in his eye. "Yeah, thanks," she said slowly. Then she gestured to her black coat. "But I came prepared today."

Kiba laughed and took the scarf from her.

"So… coffee?" His grin was bright in the setting sun. "My treat this time."

Sakura hesitated. Despite the fact that they were getting along, and even after his generous rating of the night before, she wasn't completely comfortable with Kiba. It wasn't just his attitude, but the way he smiled, the way he spoke. Something about him set her on edge the more she spent time with him.

But even so, before she knew it, Sakura was sitting with him over hot coffees and a biscotti to split between them.

"So," Kiba said lightly, his eyes intent on her, "How's your day been?'

"Funny you should ask," she said grumpily, breaking off a piece of biscotti. It was soft. "It's been ridiculous. People keep staring at me."

He looked like he wanted to laugh. "Staring at you? Really. Explain."

Sakura waved a hand. "I don't know," she said. "It's like I'm some walking, talking dog, and they're all too scared to ask me how I do it." She thought of the ogling, the rating. "Or maybe like I'm something off the runway."

Kiba raised an eyebrow. "Huh."

"What?" she asked defensively. He was the one who gave her a ten! She hadn't even gotten another one!

"Nothing," he said hastily, grinning. "It's just kind of funny. You were telling me about your low ratings just yesterday."

"They weren't that low," she grumbled. "Just constant fives."

"I didn't give you a five," he reminded her quietly. Sakura glanced up at him.

"Yeah," she said, horrified to feel herself reddening. What was wrong with her? She took a sip of coffee to distract herself. "And ever since then, my stock has gone through the roof."

"Yeah?" Kiba leaned forward. "Well, maybe everyone's starting to see something different."

Sakura pursed her lips. That was an odd way to phrase something even stranger to say. Seeing something different? She had checked her reflection – multiple times – and she looked no different than usual.

Still, the conversation was getting awkward, so she merely shrugged it off and changed the subject: "Eh. Who knows. So are you done for the day?"

He smiled, clearly amused, but didn't press the subject. "Yeah."

"Do you ever study?" He always seemed to be free.

"Nah, I come here to pick up girls and drink coffee," he deadpanned. "Isn't it obvious?" When Sakura laughed, he said, "Nah, I'm a Political Science major."

"Politics, like many blood-sucking creatures?"

"That's about right. You should see some of the people in that program." Kiba shuddered.

Sakura opened her mouth to say something – she wasn't sure what – when she felt someone watching her. she turned to see a pair of boys her age, at the table next to theirs. Talk about déjà vu.

Kiba followed her gaze, although they looked away before the boys could notice them. The two were silent, waiting for the verdict.

"She's really hot. Eight?"

"Maybe nine…"

"Eight-and-a-half then."

"She's with Kiba, though…"

"Dammit. Who is she?"

Kiba's lips twitched in a smile, and he turned to raise an eyebrow at the boys. Their eyes grew very wide at being caught, and Sakura bit back a smile.

Once the boys had left – very hastily – Kiba turned back to her. "So. I see what you mean." Sakura nodded, and he rubbed the back of his neck. "And I hate to leave you to deal with it on your own, but I have to go."

"I thought you were done for the day?"

"I am," he said, "But I have to photocopy some notes for a friend. And he's kind of stupid, so I'll probably have to explain everything very slowly to him."

"Okay." Sakura stood. "I should probably go study or something, anyway. I'm pretty wired now."

Kiba's smile was wry. "You don't say."

She held her coffee protectively to her chest as she trailed after Kiba out of the building. It had gotten dark outside in the half hour that they were talking, and Sakura glanced around her. It was still early evening, but the tall buildings and trees cast everything into shadow.

She shivered, and Kiba glanced at her. "Want me to walk you?"

"I'll be fine," she assured him, and he nodded before heading off to the library. Sakura took a fortifying sip of coffee before making her own way to the student centre. Ino had a class until seven, but she could meet her there later.

But just as she was rounding the corner of the North Building, a hand lashed out to grab her by the elbow, and she was knocked roughly against the stone wall.

"Wha—" She tried to orient herself, but a clammy hand pressed over her mouth before she could draw in a breath.

"You're the ten," rasped a voice very close to her ear. Sakura detected, faintly, the scent of alcohol.

Her knee shot up to slam her assailant in the stomach, and he grunted, backing off. Sakura immediately tried to run, but he kicked out, catching her in the back of her knee, and she stumbled long enough for her attacker to press down on her. in the dim light coming from the streetlamps around the side of the building, she could barely make out his features. He was a stranger.

He was also a stupid stranger, she realized. Her hands and legs were restrained by his weight, but when she felt hands at the hem of her jeans, she realized that her mouth was uncovered, and she screamed.

He cut her off almost immediately, lips pressing down insistently on hers, and Sakura shuddered. The damp ground beneath her was soaking the back of her shirt, where her jacket was riding up. The stranger's weight was cutting off all blood circulation to her legs, and his hands were pawing at her thighs, her stomach, her neck.

One of her hands was trapped between them and, out of desperation, she turned her palm towards him and sunk her nails into his chests. He was surprised enough to flinch back, but then he twisted her wrist backwards over her head with even more force—

And that was when another shape came barreling around the corner, launching itself at her attacked and tackling him to the ground. The two figures grappled for a few moments, during which Sakura managed to catch a glimpse of her rescuer's spiky brown hair.

Kiba.

Her heart was in her throat as she scrambled to her knees, just as Kiba, with a grunt, slammed his fist into her attacker's face. He slumped to the ground, and Kiba stood.

Sakura's eyes were growing adjusted to the dark, and she could see Kiba's concerned, serious expression.

"Sakura!" Kiba hissed, grabbing her by the elbow. She flinched back, and he dropped her arm. "Are you okay?"

Sakura pressed a hand to her mouth. Her legs were shaking.

Kiba's hand was back on her arm, steadying her. "What happened?" When she didn't answer, he stared hard at her until she looked up. "Listen, my dorm's nearby. Do you want to wait there?"

Sakura was so shaken up by what had just occurred that she nodded without a second thought. Kiba's hand was warm and comforting on her back, and she let him lead her to his dorm and out of the bitingly cold night.

His room was surprisingly neat, and rather empty. It was small, with his bed in the corner, dark blue comforter spread neatly over the mattress. His books were stacked on his desk, beside a black laptop. As Sakura looked around, Kiba tossed his leather jacket onto his computer chair and turned to face her.

Sakura stared back at him. His expression was unreadable. "You want some water?"

She shook her head, and he gestured to his chair. "Why don't you sit down?"

Her legs were still shaking, so she crossed the room in four long strides and sank onto the black swivel chair gratefully. Her pulse had slowed, but now her stomach was tying itself into knots at all the what-ifs.

"Thanks," she said. Her voice was hoarse, and she cleared her throat.

Kiba stayed standing, arms crossed over his chest. He didn't appear to have heard her.

"Amazing what some people will do for a pretty face, isn't it?"

Alarmed by his tone, Sakura sucked in a breath, suddenly realizing she was in the bedroom of a virtual stranger, one definitely strong enough to overwhelm her, and she shot up to her feet.

Kiba didn't look impressed. He shook his head and said in a low voice, "Not me."

She didn't back down. "I have to go," she said, moving for the door. Kiba caught her by the arm just as she tried to brush past him.

"Not so fast," he said. His tone was abruptly darker, and Sakura's heart started to pound wildly. She cursed herself for being such an idiot. "I need to talk to you."

"Talk?" she echoed, hesitating for a split-second, which was all Kiba needed to spin her around to face him.

"Talk," he said. "Come with me."

He didn't give her a choice, however, as he held her in an iron grip. Sakura let herself be led to the bathroom, as if in a daze. Part of her knew she should get away. The other part of her wasn't listening.

The bathroom was as clean and white as the rest of the room. Kiba turned Sakura to face the mirror, his hands on her shoulders. He was smiling, and Sakura swallowed. She didn't like the way his teeth glinted in the light. She tried to tell herself she was being ridiculous.

"What do you see?"

She stared at the mirror. What was there to see? "Me?"

"Very good," he said, as if she was a small child. "Now, keep watching yourself."

Sakura complied, just as Kiba took his hands from her shoulders. His hands suddenly shot out to form different shapes and gestures – locking together, palms out, fingers crossing each other – in succession, moving so fast they were almost a blur. Sakura gasped from the surprise, opening her mouth to demand what on earth he was doing—before gasping for an entirely different reason.

Her appearance was changing.

Kiba put his hands down, watching with a smirk, as her hair grew shinier, her skin smoother, her eyes bigger. Sakura watched as her entire face went through a makeover until, abruptly, it wasn't her face anymore.

Sakura was never remarkable. She wasn't beautiful, but she wasn't ugly, either. She had always looked in the mirror, but never been impressed. Until now.

She wasn't just beautiful – she was ethereal. She couldn't understand what had changed to make her look this way – were her lips glossier, her eyes greener? – but suddenly, she looked nothing like the girl she had always been. She looked nothing like the way any girl should.

Her heart pounded in her chest, and she whirled around to stare up at Kiba.

"What did you do?" she demanded shrilly. "What the hell did you do to me?!"

"Genjutsu," he explained. "Just a little trick, nothing harmful." He paused. "Well, not really. Not if I can protect you." He grinned. "What, you don't like it?"

Before Sakura could answer, Kiba reached out and took her chin in his, tilting her face up so he could see clearly. He smiled, clearly satisfied, and Sakura felt sick. That smile was dark, cruel – so unlike the one of only an hour ago.

He leaned down to stare her in the eyes, and she stepped back until she was pressing into the counter. Sakura's breathing grew shallow, the thumping of her pulse wild and erratic, as Kiba brushed the hair out of his eyes, opened his mouth, and all but purred:

"Yeah. That's a perfect ten for sure."