The next chapter has arrived! This one isn't too long. Throughout the story I'll be switching between critical point of views including Sasuke, Sakura, and my OC, and other minor Character POVs. This chapter isn't too long, but I'm also almost done with chapter three which has got a pretty hefty amount of content. I hope you're all enjoying my story and stick around for more! Let me know you're thoughts! I love to hear feedback from my readers.

Enjoy!

Chapter 2

"Koi! Come on, we're going to be late."

Kage Kokoro stood at the front door wearing a brand new Konoha High uniform: a green pleated skirt with black knee high socks, black loafers, and a white button down shirt with the school symbol on the sleeve. A green tie hung loosely around her neck. Her long, dark hair that reflected the amethyst color of her eyes brushed against her waist. A moon clip with hanging moonstone droplets pinned her hair in a half up half down.

The sound of small feet could be heard padding down the hall way before a young boy, ten years her junior came into view. Her baby brother wore a similar uniform for Konoha elementary school. His white pull over shirt had a green sailor collar with a tie and the same school insignia on his sleeve. He wore black slacks and a pair of dress shoes. He was undoubtably going to be tall like their father and older brother. At eight years old, Koi was already almost as tall as her — though she wasn't impressively tall to begin with. Kokoro took after their mother and had stopped growing when she reached five foot one. Her oldest brother, Dai, took after their father and was a couple inches over six feet tall, while their father towered over them all at six and a half feet.

Nervousness was evident on Koi's face as he shoved his shoes on and fumbled with his backpack. "Okay," he breathed, "I'm ready!" This would be his first time attending a public school. He was five when their family left Konoha and due to the nature of their travels it would have been impossible for her or Koi to attend regular school. Instead, they were both homeschooled by their mother for the last three years.

Kokoro offered her brother an encouraging smile and led the way to their respective schools. When she was younger, she had gone to a different school than Koi, but she tried to ease his nerves by telling him what she remembered as they walked. The walk filled her with nostalgia, remembering the days when she used to walk to school every morning with her boyfriend, the fun she used to have running down these very streets with her friends, the willow down by the water's edge... a blush dusted her cheeks and her stomach did a couple excited and anxious flips. Her family had just returned Saturday afternoon and yesterday her mom had called their long time family friends, the Uchiha's. She had hoped to talk to Sasuke, but apparently he had been out with friends all day so she missed the chance, but Mikoto confirmed they would be attending the same school together. It had been three long years since she spoke to him last. She wrung her hands behind her back, wondering if he was just as excited to see her as she was him.

"Nee-Chan...Ko-nee," Koi called. He jabbed his pointer and middle fingers into her side, effectively making her jump and capturing her attention. "Why are you grinning and blushing so much? Are you really that excited for school."

Kokoro pressed a palm to her cheek, feeling the warmth it radiated. She supposed she was a bit red in the face, wasn't she? "No reason," Kokoro said, but she couldn't hide her smile. "It's been a long time since I've been home... I'm just excited to see everything again."

"Everything...like Sasuke?" He teased knowingly. He remembered Sasuke, of course: he knew him almost his whole life! He also knew of their affections and Kokoro wasn't all that difficult to read.

Her blush deepened. "Well...perhaps," she muttered, unable to deny it.

The elementary school came into view up ahead and Kokoro was glad for the distraction. "Look, there it is!" She places a hand on Koi's shoulder and stopped at the gates. "My school is just down the road that way. I'll come by and pick you up after school and we can walk home together." Maybe she'd find some time this week to take Koi on a proper adventure around the town. She planted a kiss on his cheek, which was quickly wiped away with complaints of 'gross! Not in public!' Giggling, she watched him find his way before leaving to make it to her own school on time.

The first bell tolled as soon as Kokoro stepped through the gates. Students bustled across the cobble walkways chattering excitedly and catching up with friends they hadn't seen all summer before the second bell rang to summon them their classrooms. Large groups of students crowded around the class board to see what room they had been assigned to. As much as she wanted to search the school to find Sasuke, she knew it was wiser to check the class board first. She would have to be incredibly lucky to find him in this swamp when every single high schooler flooding the courtyard.

No one paid her any mind as she crossed the yard and approached the class board, looking for a way in. Somewhere in the crowd she heard a rather obnoxious cry of, "Hey, jerk we got in the same class," followed by a cackling laugh. Kokoro frowned, unable to cut through the large crowd and too short to see over everyone else's head even on her top toes. She noticed the crowd parting slightly to her right as a group of kids pushed their way out. If she was fast, could she slip in that way?

Fortune was on her side today, but not in the way she expected.

A head with spiky blonde hair, blue eyes, and a fox-like grin emerged from the crowd with his arm looped around the neck of a young man with jet black hair, dark eyes, and a much more serious expression. As soon as they broke the crowd, he shoved himself out of the laughing blondes headlock and straightened up to adjust his uniform. He muttered something, but Kokoro didn't catch it. The crowd suddenly sounded very muffled and far away. The only sound she heard was the beating of her own heart as it thudded wildly in her chest. He hadn't noticed her yet, but she couldn't believe her luck.

Three years difference had been very kind to him. He was taller now, she realized, and as handsome as ever. His fifteen year old body had filled out with toned lean muscle, and while he kept that same hair style he had ever since they were kids, his face had matured greatly. Tentatively, she called out to him.

"Sasuke...?"

His head turned at the sound of his name being called. His face went through a quick contortion of emotion. At first he had looked toward her with indifferent curiosity, but the second his eyes landed on her, his expression changed to a look of shock and disbelief. His mouth hung open for several seconds too long before he finally found his voice.

"...Kokoro?"

The sound of her name on his lips made her heart soar straight to the heavens. A warm pink dusted her cheeks as excitement overcame her. He recognized her! Brimming with joy, Kokoro closed the gap between them. Her arms latches around his neck, pulling him into a tight embrace. She felt Sasuke's arms loop around her lower back, holding her fast against him. Her ear pressed against his chest, hearing his heart match her own erratic pace. A bright smile tugged on her lips. "I missed you so much!"

—-

This morning was just like every other first day of school. Naruto dragged Sasuke to the front of the school board so they could find out what class they and their friends would be in this year. Naruto found their names first and announced it loudly in Sasuke's ear. He scanned the list of names and saw that Sakura, Hinata, and Ino were also in their class along with some other friends like Shikamaru and Kiba. Sasuke narrowed his eyes and combatted Naruto's excitement, "how did an idiot like you make it into class 1-A?"

Naruto scoffed. "Maybe I'm not as big an idiot as you make me out to be, bastard." Naruto swung his arm around Sasuke's neck and started dragging him through the crowd, saying how this year he was going to prove himself and gave a great triumphant laugh. As soon as they were out of the crowd, Sasuke shoved Naruto off him. His pits stunk.

"You're such a dumbass, you don't even know what deodorant is," Sasuke quipped as he straightened his uniform. Well, now that they knew their class, they might as well find the girls and save them the trouble of fighting through the horde. Naruto threw his own comeback of, "Well, at least I don't stink as bad as your attitude," before taking off laughing. Sasuke went to follow him at a more casual pace, but didn't make it far before a strikingly familiar voice called out to him.

"Sasuke...?" Assuming it was just another one of his admirers, Sasuke turned curiously to see what they wanted and swore his heart stopped. He stood, gapping like an idiot as he tried to figure out if he was seeing things or not.

Sure enough, there, standing before him was, "...Kokoro?"

Chapter 2 End!

Like I said, a little bit of a short one. The next chapter shit starts hitting the fan and things might get a little bit steamy with some drama ? follow along and let me know if you're liking it so far! Chapter 3 coming soon!

~Sweetsugarstand