CHAPTER SEVEN

Here Batter, Batter, Batter...

By evening, everyone had found out about what had happened. I don't know who told them. I didn't, and I don't think Hinata and the kids would have told on me. And Sasuke really only talks to people when he absolutely has to.

So...who told?

It was probably Sai...

Anyway, I got the third-degree at dinnertime, when Hinata, Tenten, Matsuri and I sat down to our taco surprise, and I was just about to take a bite, when I happened to look up and catch Sakura Haruno's eye.

Uh oh. You know what they say about not making eye-contact? Well, as soon as my hazel eyes locked with her soft green ones, she stood up. So did Ino, and Karin, over at the other table (Sasuke, conveniently, did not show up for dinner that night), and they marched in straight lines across the mess hall towards me.

"Uh oh, here comes trouble..." Tenten said, rolling her eyes.

I was too worried to say anything. The look on the three Sasuke-fans' faces were not ones to be trifled with. I put my taco down, my appetite gone.

"So, Emily," Sakura didn't waste any time getting right down to the point. "You and Sasuke. Explain."

I began stammering: "Ah...I...err...well...you see...I...we...he and I are...not...there's..."

Tenten reached out and put a hand on my shoulder, before glaring at the other three girls. "Sakura, did you come here for a reason?"

"Only to find out the truth." Ino answered for the green-eyed pink-haired girl. "Emily, are you going out with Sasuke or not?"

"No," I replied truthfully, twining and untwining my bandaged hands. "I'm not, because he's already got someone he likes."

"Really?" Karin looked interested. "He hasn't told me any of this. Who is it?"

I shrugged. "How should I know?" I stood up. "Excuse me." I mumbled, and dashed out of the mess hall quickly.

oOo

A walk along the lake turned out to be just what I needed. Because of the bug repellant Shino gave me on our first night here, I didn't get eaten alive by insects. I saw three hares, a pair of nightingales singing their sweet song, a tawny owl, a bright green frog and a deer and her fawn grazing by the borderline of trees.

I was about halfway around the lake when I realised that I was no longer on the girls side, and should head back because I was in 'enemy territory'.

I turned around, and...

Akamaru jumped out of the undergrowth.

"Holy cow!" I yelped, half expecting Akamaru to go: Holy dog, actually... Of course, he didn't, but he bounded over to me and sat by my feet until I picked him up. "Akamaru, what in Kami's name are you doing here? Oh, listen to me, talking to a dog." I rolled my eyes and then started towards the boys side of camp. "Come on boy, let's take you back to Kiba's cabin..."

Akamaru nodded his head.

"You shouldn't be wandering around," I told the dog, as I started up the path towards the cabins (the boys side of camp practically mirrored the girls side!). "What if one of the counselors catches you? Come to think of it, does Kiba's counselor know about you? Well, he'd have to, considering you're staying in the cabin and all." I stopped in front of the cabin I knew was Kiba, Naruto and Shino's. "And here we are." I nodded, and sat down on the steps to wait for Kiba.

As I waited, I talked to Akamaru. "You know, I really shouldn't be here. Not just because we're not supposed to cross over to this side," (I made it sound like the dark side or something). "But because I might run into people I don't want to meet. I mean, the entire camp thought I was going out with Sasuke. You should have seen the way they looked at me, Akamaru. It was like, I dunno..." I rested my chin on the top of his head. "I'd be doing something wrong by going out with Sasuke Uchiha...you know? Oh, but don't get me wrong, it's not like I want to go out with him or anything..."

Akamaru growled softly.

"Oh, okay, you got me there." I sighed and watched the sun sink behind the Iwa Mountains. "I guess he is kinda cute...he has very nice eyes." I blushed slightly. "And, he's like a mystery. His eyes hold all the answers to his personality. Not like Kankurou, who wears his emotions on his sleeve half the time. Kankurou's kinda cute too, how his eyes and hair are both this, like, golden brown or something. His brother Garaa...he's like a mystery too. His jade green eyes are so deep...and he has a tattoo! That's so weird...but cool... Or Zaku, now there's someone who's self-assured, it may be good getting to know him again. Oh, but Neji...even though he doesn't like Sasuke, Neji is...well, he has the voice of a male angel," I admitted, and Akamaru nodded. "And his white eyes...if Hinata has pearly white eyes that are soft but hide her toughness, then Neji's are cool and calm. He believes in destiny and stuff..." I sighed, and leaned against the post behind me. "But Sai, you know him? I met him when I was five years old (and he was six) and he called me Mr. Ugly then even. But then...Sasuke did mention that Sai often doesn't tell girls exactly how they look...I wonder if he means the complete opposite of what he says?" The thought made my eyes open wide, when I realised how Sai might see me. Akamaru barked softly and nuzzled my chin.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." I sighed, and watched as the fireflies came out to play. "But, Sasuke and Sai like someone else, I wonder who she is...aurgh. Akamaru, there's too many cute guys at camp - Sasuke, Sai, Neji, Kankurou, Garaa, Zaku and Kiba..."

Akamaru yelped.

"Oh, didn't I say that before?" I said. "Well, I think your owner's cute, just like you." I hugged the little white dog, and he licked my ear. "But...why can't all of these people live in Taki?" I sighed for about the tenth time that night. "I mean, no one in Taki is really that friendly. The girls on the train proved that, thank goodness Kakuzu was there, or else I would never have been able to walk again! But...I dunno, the people in my cabin are way more friendly then anyone in Taki except my family. Even my own team doesn't like me that much, I get along way better with people at camp from other places. Suna, Konoha, Oto...oh, sometimes I wish I could move away from Taki and live somewhere else...like Haha Island..." The thought appealed to me, and for the next three minutes Akamaru and I sat in silence. My mind was on a tropical beach somewhere, sipping tropical island fruit drinks and listening to tropical island music...

Then, we heard voices. Akamaru's ears perked up. I strained my eyes and ears, and saw two figures walking along the path from the girls side of the camp. I recognised them as Tsunade and Jiraiya, and I panicked. They couldn't see me here, let alone with a dog!

My heart began racing.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed my arm and yanked me off of the cabin's porch, and into the hedge.

I was about to cry out, and so was Akamaru, when a hand clamped around my mouth, and one around Akamaru's mouth.

"It's okay," Said the voice of Sasuke Uchiha. "It's me..."

I nodded, and he let go of my mouth, and then I calmed Akamaru down so that Sasuke could let go of him too and we looked through the leaves to see Tsunade and Jiraiya come to a stop under a lamp light.

"It's just a shame, that's all." Tsunade said, reaching a hand up to touch the necklace around her neck. "I mean, this has been a Konoha-run camp for the longest time. It's been in my family for generations."

"I know," Jiraiya replied. "But, we have to do what we have to do. I'm sure the campers will understand..."

"Will they?" Tsunade asked him. "Will they really, Jiraiya?"

"Well..." Jiraiya sighed. "Maybe a quarter of them will..."

"Yeah, the Oto campers." We saw Tsunade roll her eyes. "Jiraiya, I just don't like it. Not at all." She added, and then turned on her heel and marched back towards the girls side of the camp.

Jiraiya stared after her, before sighing again and heading towards his office and living area, whatever you call it.

Only when we were absolutely sure that they were gone, did Sasuke and I creep out into the light, and I held Akamaru in my arms.

"Well," I said, juggling the weight of the small dog in my arms. "Well..." I said again. "What was that all about?"

"I have no idea..." Sasuke said softly. "Emily, how's your nose?"

"It's fine." I replied. "It doesn't hurt anymore and," I went on quickly, when Sasuke went to speak. "Before you apologize again, don't, because you already did. Twelve times." I added, and Sasuke grinned.

"What a nice smile," I said quietly. "Sasuke, you should smile more often..." I smiled despite myself. His smile was contagious.

"I could say the same about you..." He replied, his smile growing, and we stood there under the lamp and firefly light, until I realised that I'd better be heading back to my own side of the camp, before Matsuri and the others sent a search party out for me. I haded Akamaru to Sasuke, who promised to wait for Kiba to get back, and then I turned on my heel and ran back towards my side of the camp.

I was about halfway back there when I realised something that made me come to a complete stop.

If Sasuke had been listening from the hedges all that time, then...he'd heard everything I'd said to Akamaru about him and the others!

oOo

There was a softball game the next day. I have to admit, I hadn't slept very well, and getting up at five-thirty for stable duty was torture. I dreaded facing Sasuke, I wondered all the way there what he was gonna say to me, and then...I went out of my way to avoid him.

I stayed behind Matsuri, who was well-aware of my dilemma. I kept out of sight as we headed into the stables. I cleaned wherever Sasuke wasn't cleaning (like when he started towards one end of the stables, I would quickly run out the exit and hurry around to the other side) and so on and so forth until breakfast, when Anko announced that we were to play a softball game with the boys.

Oh please.

I think Kami, or someone else up there, really didn't like me today, as I trudged onto the softball field with Matsuri, Tenten and Hinata, well, guarding me. Sakura, Ino, Karin and Tamaki met us there, and we stood around, not necessarily near one another. Anko and Shizune didn't know what was going on. Occasionally, Sakura, Ino or Karin would glare over at our group (oh, okay, at me) and then Tenten or Matsuri would glare right back at them. Hinata and I fidgeted nervously when this happened, and Tamaki just sighed and checked her perfectly manicured nails.

"Where are they?" Anko said impatiently.

"Here they are!" Tenten announced, and we all turned to see the boys striding towards us. "Late, as usual!" She added, and Matsuri grinned.

What an entrance the boys made. Kakashi led his campers - Shino, Kiba, Naruto and Garaa - towards us. A second later a man wearing green spandex came loping towards us, followed closely by Lee. Trudging behind them were Neji, Sasuke and a disgruntled-looking Kankurou.

"Why the hell did I have to come!?" He complained loudly, dragging his feet on the grass. "Just because that idiot didn't want..." He broke off when he saw me standing there. "Hello..." He said, grinning.

I blushed. "H-hi Kankurou..." Why was he smiling at me like that?

"Alright campers!" We all jumped as the man in green spandex (wearing a Konoha headband on his arm) yelled enthusiastically to us all. "Let's get this ball game happening! Into two teams!" He added, and divided us into two teams before we knew what was happening.

"Is he weird or what?" Karin murmured to Sasuke.

"Hey!" Lee defended the man who looked like an older version of him. "Do not say anything bad about Mighty Gai!"

"Mighty Gai?" Matsuri repeated. She had edged away from Tenten, as if she didn't trust her with a baseball bat. Kiba and Shino were tossing a ball back and forth, and Naruto was playing piggy in the middle with them. Since he was so short, he could never catch the ball, which Shino and Kiba lobed high over his head. Garaa was leaning against a post, looking bored out of his mind. Hinata was talking to her cousin. Lee was busily defending Gai. Tamaki was sighing and checking her nails. Anko appeared to be arguing with Kakashi, who was half listening and half reading his book. Shizune was looking nervous about all of this.

I looked around for someone to protect me from Sasuke and his fan girls. I spotted Kankurou. I trotted over to him.

He glanced up.

"Hey, Kankurou," I said, standing beside him and glancing at Gai and Lee. "What on earth is with Rock Lee and Mighty Gai?"

Kankurou laughed. "I have no idea! A bit weird, isn't it?"

"Just a bit." I agreed, just as Anko made a decision.

"ALRIGHT YOU HORRIBLE LOT!!" She shouted. "GET A BLOODY MOVE ON!! TENTEN, YOUR TEAM IS BATTING FIRST!!"

"Yes Ma'am!" We all cried, and scrambled for our places.

I honestly think Kakashi is the only person on earth who's not scared of Anko.

oOo

I looked at the batting line-up. The Wolves.

Tamaki, Naruto, Lee, Shino, Matsuri, Kiba, Karin and Tenten.

I looked at us all in the field. The Wildcats. (Wildcats, are the best! Red, white and gold!)

Neji was pitching (to trade with Sasuke), Kankurou was catching, Sakura was on first base, Garaa was on second and Hinata was on third. Neji, Ino and I were all in the outfield.

Neji looked at Tamaki. He threw the ball to her and she hit it.

Remembering Kakashi's views on team support, the Wolves cheered as Tamaki ran to first and stayed there.

"Whatever." She said, checking her nails. "Oh no!"

"What!?" Shizune exclaimed.

"I broke it!" Tamaki wailed.

"Your hand?" Shizune wanted to know.

"No," Tamaki sniffed. "My nail."

There was a silence, which was broken by Kankurou calling out: "Wuss!"

"KANKUROU!!" Anko thundered.

The game continued. I managed to catch a few balls, but the most memorable moment (for everyone) was when Neji and I were both running for a ball hit by Kiba, and we didn't call for it. We ran into each other and fell to the ground.

"Are you okay!?" Shizune called anxiously, as Ino and Garaa ran to us.

"They're okay!" Ino called out, as Neji and I shook our heads to clear them and then stood up.

"Where's the ball!?" Someone shouted.

Garaa and I exchanged a glance. I knew where it was. I was horrified. I spun around, and managed to get the ball out of my top, but everyone could tell. I caught Sasuke's attention and threw the ball to him. He caught it, a slightly strange expression on his face as he held the ball in his hands.

My eyes opened wide, and I fell over anime style. Boys will be boys...

oOo

After we all got over that, and everyone stopped glaring at Sasuke, Neji and me, the game continued.

We took our turn up at bat.

After Kankurou hit the ball and ran to second, it was my turn. Kiba, standing on the pitcher's mound, looked at me. "Here batter, batter, batter..." He said to me, winking.

I readied myself, and hit the ball, running all the way to second and sending Kankurou home, because Tamaki dropped the ball.

"Go Emily!" The Wildcats cheered. The congratulated Kankurou too, and then Sasuke was up at bat.

He hit the ball, which sailed into the outfield - and straight towards Lee's outstretched glove.

It was as if we were moving in slo-motion. Nooooooo...

Sasuke's foot hit second and mine hit third (he's faster then I am) and...the ball hit Lee's glove and...bounced out again.

Lee and Gai wore equal looks of surprise, as Sasuke and I looked at each other. He nodded, and I signed: Stay. He looked surprised, but then smiled slightly and signed: Okay. We know sign language! I wondered where he had learned it...

Lee threw the ball to Tenten (she was pitching now because she has a mean pitch), and Hinata stepped up to bat last.

"Ha," I heard Karin mutter. "She'll never hit it..."

Hinata must've heard her, and so did Neji, because he called: "Go Hinata!"

Hinata went alright. If we all got home then we'd win this. Hinata concentrated, and glanced at Karin for a fraction of a second before hitting the ball, which she was probably envisioning was Karin's head.

CRACK!

The ball sailed over the field and into the woods. Lee, Naruto and Tamaki raced after it.

Hinata was frozen. Sasuke and I were already running.

"GO!!" Neji suddenly screamed, and Hinata went. She ran like the wind, as everyone on our team chanted: "HOMER! HOMER!"

I ran home and so did Sasuke, and we turned as one to see the ball sailing towards Kiba, who was now catching. Hinata slid into home base just as Kiba caught the ball.

"YEAH!!" We all cheered, and began hugging and slapping high fives like we'd just won the nationals or something. It was very exciting.

We'd been hugging and cheering for about two minutes when I stopped and looked at the two people I was hugging. Neji and Sasuke! Too late we realised it.

I jumped back with an: "Omigosh, I'm so sorry!"

Neji jumped back with an: "I can't believe I hugged an Uchiha!"

And Sasuke jumped back with an: "I can't believe I just hugged a (male) Hyuga!"

The two boys glared at each other, and I stood in the middle, looking anxious, until somebody suddenly swept me up into a one-armed hug. It was Kankurou, and he had the other arm around Hinata, who was blushing like crazy and I bet I was too!

"Hey guys," Sakura suddenly called. "Let's hear it for the opposite team!"

"Two, four, six, eight," The Wildcats chanted. "Who do we appreciate? The Wolves, the Wolves, yeah!"

"Two, four, six, eight," We heard the responding cheer. "Who do we appreciate? Wildcats, Wildcats, yeah!"

Kakashi, Anko, Gai and Shizune all smiled proudly.

oOo

"I can't believe I hugged Neji!" Sasuke told Karin as they walked off the field together. "Granted, I was hugging Emily too, so I'm cool..." Karin gave him a strange look.

"I was only hugging Sasuke," Neji was telling Hinata. "So that I could hug Emily, ya know?"

Hinata looked surprised. "R-really?"

"Mmhmm." Neji nodded.

I, on the other hand, stopped dead in my tracks and Kankurou's little brother walked into me.

"Hey!" He said.

"Oh, sorry Garaa..." I said distractedly, and then a flash of inspiration hit me. A way that I could enjoy my summer completely! "Garaa, can I...talk to you for a bit?" Matsuri had stopped and was listening too, so I addressed her as well. "Both of you, but mostly...Garaa..."