"Hello Kumori."

"M-Mom?"

"Yes of course! Who else?"

"Where are you going?"

"To the market, I need to pick up some groceries,"

"Oh...Ok, can I go visit Sasuke-kun?"
"Yes, sure,"

"OK, see you later okasan!" I ran over to my cousins house, happy to see Itachi along the way,

"Hi weasel-kun!" I chirped happily,

"Oi! Don't call me that!"

"Gomenasai,"

"Yeah,"

"Where are you going onisan?" he wasn't my brother, but I called him that anyway,

"Out."
"Humph...Fine...Bye onisan!"
"Bye," I skipped past him and over to Sasuke,

"Hey Sasuke-kun!"

"Hi."

"Aw, that a way to treat your favorite cousin?"

"Yeah."
"Hm, whats wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Humph...You and Itachi are alike, giving simple answers,"

"Whatever,"

"Wanna do something?"

"No."

"Wanna go for a walk?"

"Will that make you shut up?"
"Thats not nice Sasu-bozu,"

"Argh!-"

"But, fine, lets go!" I took his wrist and pulled him alongside me until he started to walk on his own, until someone shoved me into a wall,

"ITAI!" I yelled as my arm bent the opposite way, Sasuke looked at me and then glared at the running man,

"Common!" Sasuke took my shoulder and pulled me, following the man,

"No, Sasuke! It might not be safe!" I heard a scream,

"Argh! Lets just see whats happening,"

"OK..." We ran to see a crowd forming, and the ANBU coming and leaving in different directions,

"Hey! Move it! Let us see!" Sasuke yelled through the crowd, I was amazed at him bluntness, but I stopped my admiration when I saw a whisp of raven-colored hair, No...it couldn't be...NO!

"Mom!?" Sasuke choked at the sight, this once joyful women, laying in a pool of red liquid, 4 kunai's stuck in various places, motionless, her eyes closed,

I jumped to her side, shaking her, hoping that this was just a sick joke,

"MOM! WAKE UP! PLEASE! MOM!? PLEASE!!" I began kicking and screaming, all the while hoping that she would wake up. She didn't...and I finally excepted that she never would. She was the core of my short life, when I cried, she'd stop the water works, like she knew where the tap was, as cheesy as that may sound, I was never sad when she was around, she didn't mind the Gobi no Houkou, she didn't care. She always said, 'Your father loved the village and me so much as to do this to his own daughter, so I'll always love you, for me and your father. No matter what the people say; I love you.' Memories of us flashed through my mind, reminding me that I'd never have anymore like that,

"Kumori! Get a hold of yourself!"

"No!! Mom...Please! If this is just a joke, I'll forgive you! Please just wake up!!" ok, well, maybe I didn't let it go just yet, just then, Sasuke sat on me, stopping me from my hysterics,

"Stop it Kumori Uchiha," I heard a males voice say, the Hokage is here?

"Ah..." Sasuke sighed, while I just struggled to breath,

"Hai..."

"Now, please go home, and pack your things, and get that arm fixed," my 6 year old mind didn't register this, all I caught was, 'please go home'

"NO! THIS IS MY MO-"

"STOP IT KUMORI! THATS ENOUGH!" Sasuke got off me and dragged me away, tears poured down

cheeks,
"Sasuke! Stop it!"

"No! Now come on!"

"B-but...Mom..."

"..." our conversation ended there. But the image of my mom's death kept running through my mind.

"Its your fault." an older Sasuke said,

"No...No!"

"Its your fault...YOUR FAULT!!"

"NO!"

"IF YOU HAD JUST STAYED WITH HER, IT MIGHT NOT HAVE HAPPENED!!"

"ITS NOT...NOT MY FAULT!!"

"ITS YOUR FAULT! YOU DESERVE TO DIE!"

"NO!!" I shot up from my bed, panting and sweating heavily,

"Your fault!" he yelled, I screamed, and tried unlocking the door, "YOUR FAULT!!" his voice echoed,

I jiggled the door knob and finally got it open, but I fell into the arms of the one and only,

"Kumori?"

"Kiba?"

"What's wrong? I heard screaming,"

"N-nothing you need to worry about,"

"Kumori, can we just talk?-"

"We are talking," I pushed him away and went to the washroom, "Nice conversation," I rolled my eyes while closing the door and getting ready for my bath.

Kiba's POV:

I sighed, she wouldn't let me explain, how the hell would I say sorry then? Though, technically I didn't do anything... But maybe she wouldn't be mad anymore...

"Hana?"

"Yes?"

"Why are girls so confusing?"

"... This about Kumori?"

"...Get out of my head,"

"Well, as much as I know, which is a lot by the way, surprise her so she can't say anything, then explain, oh wait...no thats how you-"

"Oh thanks! Thats a great idea!"

"But thats not what I-"

"Thanks sis, later!"

"But-sigh-" I ran out before she could say anything else. I ran over to Naruto's place. Perfect, the new year's festival is coming up...

"Naruto! Hey!" Akamaru barked along with me,

"What do you want?" he said, opening the door,

"Hey, do you have a date to the new year's festival?"

"Er...No...but I think we should just stay friends...Anyways, what happened to Kumori?"

"Ew! You baka! Thats exactly why I'm asking, could you go with Hinata?"

"Ah, ok? But why?"

"Kumori won't even talk to me, er, more or less... A-And Hinata wants to go with you, but will probably just stay with Kumori,"

"Hm...Fine."

"What, you don't like Hinata?"

"N-No, its not that... She's just a bit..." he wrinkled his nose, "Weird, I mean, why does she always blush when I'm there?"

"Ah...well, will you still go?" he was totally oblivious!

"Yeah, but for Kumori."

"Humph, yeah whatever, well, do you have something to wear?"

"Yeah! IT'S ORANGE!"

"Yeah-no. You might want to get something else."

"Like what?"

"Hm...I don't know...a tux!?"

"Yeah sure whatever."

"Well, I'm picking one out today,"

"Hm, going with another guy, to pick out a tux, doesn't that sound weird to you?"

"Only if you think of it that way, trust me, I don't like the thought of this any more than you,"

"Yeah, I guess,"

"Ok then, well, see you at there,"

"Uh huh,"

"Oh dear god! THIS IS SO GAY! I'M ASKING HANA TO COME WITH US!"

"Good idea."

Kumori's POV:

Ah! Damn that Kiba! What a...a...Arg! Whatever it is, its bad at the moment! DAMNIT! How...Argh!

Hana left after the talk we had, and I was in the house alone.

"Kiba! Agh! Why do you make me feel this way!?"

I sat at the window and watched the other people, rushing to get ready for the festival. And here I am. Dateless. How pathetic... And Kiba will probably ask Ino, and I'll probably just be going with Hinata and Naruto, unless Naruto decides to ask someone...Hopefully Hinata...

"No! YOU WILL BE STRONG KUMORI! DON'T LET FEELINGS GET IN THE WAY!" at that moment, I denied any feeling I had towards Kiba... What happened to the strong girl who was me? What have I turned into? I-I...I've turned into my hearts own slave! What the hell!? I shouldn't be feeling anything!

"I'm hooome!" Kiba's voice chimed, breaking my line of thoughts,
"Oh whoop-dee-doo." I said sarcastically as my socalled best friend walked over to where I was,

"You got a date to the festival?"

"Nah...What? Ino turn you down?"

"No, didn't even ask,"

"Why? Too shy? Or was it that you knew she would just go with a cardboard statue of Sasuke?"

"I DON'T LIKE INO!"

"-snorts- Yeah, whatever,"

"Your being a real-"

"I don't care, now leave me alone,"

"Its my house,"

"Augh! Fine, whatever, I'm leaving!"

"Where are you gonna go?"
"Anywhere but here!"

"No idea, huh?"

"I-I...ARGH!" I stormed past him, glaring daggers all the while, but before I got to the door I slipped on something and hit my face on the door, "ITAI! -rubs nose- AH GOD DAMN! WHEN I'M TRYING TO MAKE AN EXIT! AH ITAI!" a moisture formed in my eyes as searing pain was killing my nose!

"Are you ok!?" I knew he had started laughing, but stopped,

"-whimpered- DON'T ACT LIKE YOU CARE! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!!" I continued my rampage and went to Hinata's. My nose bleeding. Again. Clumsiest ninja, EVER. My mom always said I had a knack for getting hurt from the dumbest things, such as running into a pole, falling out of a tree, accidentally jumping into the shallow end of a pool, HEAD FIRST.

"You fell onto a door!?" Hinata asked, surprisingly not stuttering, bandaging my nose, laughing non-stop, the whole time,

"Hai..." I said, ashamed, "B-but it was my fault!"

"-sigh- Blinded by fury huh?"

"-sulks- Yeah. Well have you asked Naruto to the fest.?"

"N-no... H-he'd never go with me..."

"OH YES HE WOULD! He will, trust me."

"Y-yeah...Sure..."

"He will, don't worry..."

"A-and what a-about you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well don't y-you want t-to go with K-Kiba?"

"No! Of course not! Thats...Thats the stupidest thing I've ever heard."

"O-oh..."

"Of course I didn't mean you Hina-chan...Its just..Oh well, it doesn't matter, I'm not going to let my emotions get the better of me,"

"B-but e-emotions make you what you a-are!"

"Yeah, but what if I don't like what I am?"

"A-are you shitting me?" it surprised me that Hinata was capable of actually saying that, well at least she was more confident... I guess...

"...No, but can we talk about something else?"

"Fine...but I'm sorry K-Kumori...I d-din't mean to-"

"No, its ok," I sighed, looking at the time, I had spent an entire day doing nothing... "Well, I gotta go, see you tomorrow Hina-chan!"

"Yes, bye Kumori-chan!" I was too tired to walk home so I just did a jutsu to save me the trouble, yeah, I created it, and yes, I'm extremely lazy when it comes to these kinda things.

"HEEEEEEYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!" I was immediately tackled to the floor by 3 heavy persons, with my hands behind my back when I poofed in,

"OOOF!!" I grunted and felt a cold metal substance on my neck, "WHAT THE HELL!?!?"

"O-Oh...um..its you Kumori...Ah...sorry..."
"No, no, its ok...JUST GET OFF!!!"

"H-hai, sure...Gomenasai," they got off me and I realized it was just Tsume, Kiba and Akamaru,

"Why do people just love sitting on me?"

"Your a soft landing!" Kiba said enthusiastically, I glared daggers at him and went to my room,

"Stupid Kiba...Stupid festival...Stupid me..." tomorrow night was the festival, and I still had no date, nada, nothing, zip, zilch! But at least I don't have to go alone... But I feel bad for Hinata, she wanted more than anything for Naruto to ask her...
"Knock, knock!"

"Ugh! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!" I turned over in my bed, hiding my face while he came in,

"Well, just let me talk, you don't have to respond but-OOF!" I threw a pillow to his face and Akamaru jumped over to me,

"Say what you want but I won't listen to you, and I never will,"

"Fine, all I wanted to ask was if Hinata wanted to go with Naruto to the festival," he smirked knowingly, and I turned to glare with him,

"What do you want in return?"

"Nothing, just tell her to come over tomorrow and we can all go together,"

"Humph, couldn't get a date so your stuck with us, huh?"

"Would you stop that?" he yelled, obviously pissed off now,

"I'll stop once you get out!"

"Fine!" once he got out, I shot up, dropped Akamaru outside, and quickly locked the door,

"And this is called a, MUA HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAA!, moment, don't you think?" I said, laughing mentally to myself, Falls for it every time...

"ARGH! LET ME IN KUMORI!!"

"Hm, let me look at my list of things to do...OH look, its not there..."

"FINE, WHATEVER!"

"Goodnight!!!" I screamed, burying myself under the covers, ignoring his yells and curses.

"Hello sister..."

"No! GET AWAY FROM ME!!"

"Sweet dreams now...-evil cackle-"

"H-he's not...not here...S-stop imagining...Ku...mori..." I drifted off to a non-peaceful sleep.... Nightmares once again taking over my subconscience...

"Now stay home with Sasuke and Itachi after school, ok?" my new otosan said,

"Can I please go over to Kiba-kuns house, after?"

"...Its not polite to talk back Kumori,"

"Sumimasen...Gomenasai...(excuse me...sorry...)" I looked down,

"-sigh- but you can if you want to later,"

"YATTA! Arigato otosan!(Yay! Thanks Father!)"

"Itashimashite(Your welcome), I know how hard it is for you..."

"H-hai! Sayonara otosan!" I said and went to the Academy, waiting for everyone else to arrive.

"Kiba-kun! May I come to your house?" I asked after greeting him,

"Hm...Yeah, sure!"

"Yatta!"
"Now lets go in before we're late!" Akamaru barked and ran in with me and Kiba.

Things were so good then... So easy... Cept for the part where my mom falls asleep(I never liked using that other term)

"Hah hah! Thanks for having me over Kiba! Mrs Inuzuka, Hana!"

"Your welcome, any time, Kumori,"

"Yes, we look forward to having you over again!"

"Heh, yeah, see you tomorrow, Kumori!"

"Hai! Sayonara and Konbawa! Sleep well!" I said, bowing,

"Hai, will do, but call us once you get home!"

"Hai, Konbawa!" I waved at them and began to run home, but once I got there, I senced that something was wrong...It was quiet and too soon for them to already be asleep, but all the lights were off. Suddenly, I heard a scream. Sasuke?

"Sasuke!" I yelled, sprinting to where I hears the irregular yelp,

"I-Itachi?" I whispered/choked. He looked over at me and smiled, but something was off, it wasn't the nice, reassuring smile, it was...Somewhat wicked, and evil...

"You should be thankful...Good bye Sasuke. Kumori, consider yourself lucky," he instantly disappeared, leaving a sobbing Sasuke, and a horribly confused me.

"S-Sasuke?"

"H-he...WAHHH!!-crys uncontrollably-" all of the sudden I saw. I saw everything I didn't want to see, everything that I feared, everything I never, ever wanted to happen. My nightmares came true. They were all...dead!?!? WHY!? WHY DID EVERYONE I KNOW ALWAYS DIE!? WHAT WAS WRONG WITH ME!? The horrible sight soon dissipated, and I dropped to my knees, tears flowing freely, but I couldn't speak. My mouth was open, but no matter how hard I tried, nothing came...nothing...

Otosan...Okasan...Ojisan...Obasan...Oji...Oba...ONISAN!!!!!!!

"GAH!!" I hollered, waking up from yet another nightmare.
"Good morning..."
"NO! Get out of my head!!" I screeched, running to my door, after grabbing my stuff,
"Good morning!" someone greeted, my mind was too messed up to think about who it might be,

"AH!! GET AWAY FROM ME!" I screaming, covering my ears,
"Whoa! Kumori! Are you really that mad?"

"Oh...Its...you..."

"Shya, who would it be?"

"N-No one, are you sure Naruto's coming?"

"Yeah, don't fuss little miss worry wart!"

"Hey! I'm not a worry wart! Warts are ugly,"

"And what makes you think your not?" OH, now THAT was just mean,
"KIBA YOU FAG! WELL YOUR...FUGLY!!" I went to the washroom and locked the door, as if this day could get any worse...Oh no, did I just jinx it? Well, this is gonna be interesting...