This chapter is an intermission. Well, not so much an intermission as a break from the main story line. We will switch point of views from mine, to Nick's. Thought it would be fun for a chappie! So now - insert me doing a bunch of really fast handsigns - let us visit my best friend temporarily AS HIM! Yes, I am laughing maniacally. Here we go:

"Nick! That's so sweet!" Ino squealed at me, I grinned happily.

"I know." Replied I cockily.

What had I done to get the impossible to please (save one emo shinobi) Ino Yamanaka to squeal for me? I had given her a delicate hibiscus bloom, it means delicate beauty. Ino reacted well to this as she helped out in her parent's flower shop in her free hours. So she knew what it meant. Ino was a great girl, and, as a friend, I loved her to death.

At first we didn't get along too well, but with Shikamaru and Choji's emotional separation from her she had no one to go to. Even the bitchiest girl in the world - yes, Lynx, I'm talking about you - needs someone to talk to. So, I - the amazing, awesome, sexy Nick - gave her a soft shoulder to cry on. So we became friends. Yup, isn't that awesome? She's definitely strong, and a great person (damn, I'm sounding so corny, I need one of my gals to beat some sense into me) a friend is exactly what she deserves.

"Hehe, delicate beauty. Do you really think that, Nick?" She inquired, her voice uncertain.

"Of course, Ino." I gave her a reassuring hug.

"Thanks, Nick. I love you so much." She told me, I smiled widely.

"I love ya too, you're my gal? Or one of them…" I added in an undertone, they were genuine.

"Thanks for being here for me." We simply continued our embrace, basking in our moment of horrific corniness. Good times, good times.

"Are we interrupting something?" Shikamaru asked lazily, entering our forest 'area'/training grounds.

"Yeah, so fuck off." Ino said rudely, not meaning it, just embarrassed, Choji and Shikamaru knew that.

"Hahaha." I chuckled appreciatively.

"Sparring for today?" Shikamaru inquired.

"Yeah, guess so."

Training was boring that day (even though I was exhausted by the end of it). Ino and I teamed up against Choji and Shikamaru (and lost…). So all in all (minus giving Ino a beautiful flower) my day sucked. But I wasn't too pissed about it 'cause I had Lexi at home. We both lived with Kurenai - her teacher. I wished I could see more of Lynx, though Lexi and I were close and I loved her to death (more than she knew…) Lynx and I had known each other longer and she always finds a way to put a smile on my face. Whether intentionally or not, she did.

Lexi, on the other hand, provoked the strangest emotions. Pain, giddiness, restlessness, hopelessness, and confusion. I sorta guessed what it was, though I could never say it out loud for fear I could be wrong or hurt even more. Before I turned 12 (the year we started sixth grade) I could never understand the way Lynx felt for Jake. She cared about him more than anything, she told only Em, until the two were gone. Then she opened up. We could tell, though. But why? I always asked myself, why did she like him so much? It just didn't make sense. And the way she seemed happier around him, but at the same time more depressed. I only understood when we got into middle school, when girls became more than just friends. And Lexi looked a whole lot different than before.

Slowly I began to understand what I felt, but I ignored it. I still try to, she's still my best friend. So I can't like her. If I did then Lynx would hate me, why? For being so clichè. That and she's really protective of Lexi, sure I'm protective of her, but she'd never want me and Lexi to get together for fear that she or I would get hurt and our friendship might suffer. Blah, everything to do with Lexi is complicated. I know what I want, but all those stupid complications!

OK, let's get off that subject. It hurts my head. Ino and I went out for dinner, separately to get away from the others for a night. She seemed so vulnerable when we were away from those two. Maybe it was their strength that kept her strong in their presence, or maybe for fear of being teased, or simply not wanting to appear weak. When around me, she knew I was just as weak as her. So she was more open. For a guy I can be way too sensitive, but when the only friends you've got are girls you learn to be sympathetic to their needs. 'Specially with Lynx. She's violent.

Our dinner was simple, we ate at the local tea shop. I had onigiri (lately my appetite hadn't been that large) with soy sauce on top since I'm not the adventurous type when it comes to food. I'd rather be safe. Ino had something small as well, she was very self-conscious. I don't understand why, she is too skinny - at least compared to where I came from. But then again, I'm never gonna understand a girl's need to be skinnier than the next one. I personally don't mind (within reason of course, I'm not that deep) their weight. I mean, even Lexi isn't as skinny as her. She has these great curves and-- let's leave that for another time.

When I got home that night Lexi was in an animated conversation with Kurenai and oblivious to the rest of the world. So I trudged into the kitchen, grabbed a snack, and made my way up the stairs. My room was simple, but I liked that. Though I'm not one for aesthetics, I had added a few touches. The room was originally a canary yellow, sickening, so Kurenai and I painted it one Saturday - pale blue. We also changed the bedspread (from a peachy colour) to some shade of blue or another. I have a blue fetish. That's about it.

I lay on my bed, munching on an apple, just reminiscing on the day and my life in general. I'm a deep person - this is where Lynx would say: 'yeah, right' or 'in your dreams, blondie'. Never thought I'd miss her sarcasm… Hell, I even miss when she pretends to be nice to me, then throws me down the stairs. Yeah, we've been through a lot. But thick and thin she's always there to kick me when I'm down.

"Nick?" Came a voice from the doorway, I recognised it as Lexi's.

"Yeah, come in." I smiled.

"How was training?" She inquired, flopping unceremoniously onto my bed.

"Eh, it was OK… gave Ino the flower you told me to. She seemed happier afterwards." I grinned cheesily at her, receiving a similar one in reply.

"No matter what girls say, we all love getting flowers from guys! It makes us feel wanted!" She stated happily. She wasn't hinting at anything, I gave her flowers all the time, if I randomly picked one, or bought a bouquet for her birthday… so she had nothing to complain about there.

"How was your training? How's Kiba?" I teased, my insides squirming at the mention of her crush.

"Eh, training's gooooood. And Kiba's still a cute lil dog boy who I shall get my hands on." She dragged out the 'good' in a way that made my heart do little backflips.

"Haha, good luck with that." She grinned in reply.

"I wanna see Lynx again, we're not together any more. It's not fair. I miss her." She told me, after a pause.

"Yeah," I stared into space, wondering what she might be doing at that point in time. It was a common occurrence around here. But I had Lexi, and one friend had to be better than none (sorry Lynx!), so I guessed I was lucky in a way.

"I wonder what she's doing right now? Do you think she still thinks about us all the time, I mean, she's always seemed to move on fast. She was the first to get back onto her feet when they--" Lexi coughed slightly, covering an almost sob. "She helped us get over them, as well. Do you think she would forget us just like that? I don't know… I hope she's OK. She makes friends easily, but she makes enemies quicker. Oh, Nick, I miss her so much!"

I pulled Lexi into a warm embrace. I missed Lynx too, I missed our trio, I missed the other two as well, but they were long gone, while Lynx was still out there - without us. Without us, the words rang through my head. Without her, heh, strange thoughts, huh?

"Yeah, but we're gonna see her soon. And I'm sure she wouldn't forget us, she's my gal, and your sis practically. She wouldn't dare forget us! I know you're worried about her, but she'll be fine. You're right about the friends and enemies part, though. But I'm sure she can handle herself. And, even though I don't trust him, Chirou will look after her. He's a ninja, after all." I reassured her, believing every word that had just come out of my mouth and hoping the same for her.

"I hope you're right. You better be right, or I'll set Asuma on you and say you've been hittin' on his woman!" She threatened jokingly, I took a mock scared step back.

"You wouldn't!" I replied, aghast.

"Oh, I would." Replied she, gravely.

We laughed loudly at the stupid joke. Both content. We joked for a while longer, before getting ready for bed and, eventually, going to sleep. Only to restart another cycle.

Again, even in a new world, life falls into a steady routine. That routine always gives me some sort of comfort in the fact that the next day will be OK. That it will all be the same. Even though deep down I know that something has to happen soon to break this simplistic, yet comfortable, routine. Nothing is ever peaceful forever. Whether its peaceful in, simply, it's conflict, or actual calm peace. It will all end one day.

On that note I'm leaving you, for now.

Nick, over and out.