A/N: Sorry for the extremely late update. Computer died, and it took for ever to get enough money to afford a new one. But now I've got it so.. whoo! X]

Like Sakura had said, nothing did happen to them. Sayuki began to spend more time with Sakura, following her everywhere like a puppy. Sayuki was in awe of her. It even began to distract her from everything. She had no more worries about the bullying, and if any happened she didn't even realise it. She even began to like coming to school. Her enthusiasm for it even shocked her parents who thought she was sick at first. They were relieved to find out she wasn't ill and was actually having a somewhat normal life like she used to.

Sakura was like a light in Sayuki's dark life then. She began to continue dressing more stylish compared to her old look, which got even a few other people talking to her. She still got harassed by Sakon, but Sakura was there to save her every time. Even with that she began to feel like her life was going back to normal. She was beginning to feel like everything was actually going to be okay for once. She was beginning to see the silver lining. She knew it was all going to work out for her.

Her new friend and the other girls in her classes were getting closer to her. It was all she had wanted, and she was more than content with it now. She didn't want a thing to change, afraid it would all shatter in a moment. These worries were always washed away by Sakura's bright smile though. They never lasted longer than a few moments, something Sayuki was glad for. She thought they would fade away, and that all her fears were just that; fears. Nothing that would happen in reality, like Sakura had promised her. Was it so bad for her to wish for that?

"You stare a lot at him..." Sayuki glanced to her side at the boy Sakura always seemed to have her eye on. Even though Sakura had made the speech about boys when they first met, Sayuki couldn't help but notice her staring at him. Sasuke Uchiha. He was popular, and she knew for a fact Karin also had her eye on him. She couldn't see why so many people liked him. He was so anti-social... kind of like her, but more hateful. Was that part of his charm?

"Hmmm?" Sakura's eyes reluctantly turned back to Sayuki, who looked down. She felt bad for bringing Sakura from her dreaming, but she couldn't help but be curious. "I'm sorry. I sort of zone out sometimes when I see him..." Sakura laughed nervously, her eyes glancing from Sayuki back to where Sasuke stood, a few girls surrounding him.

"Is he that cool? I just don't get it..." Sayuki stated boldly, scrunching her nose as she examined him. His hair was funny looking too. He was kind of cool and collected looking, but was it that attractive? Love was such a strange thing.

"I don't know what it is really... he just sort of attracts me. Like a moth to fire." Sakura said thoughtfully, as she rested her head on her palm. She placed her full attention on Sayuki now, and smiled wistfully. "He's cool calm and collected. He's not loud or too full of himself. I don't think I've ever seen him gloat, and he does have his rough side... but we all do right?" Sakura looked at Sayuki for an agreement, which Sayuki quickly gave by nodding her head quickly. Sakura frowned. "But with him, it really is like being a moth. So many girls are after him," Sakura's eyes moved to Karin who sat a short distance from them, staring at Sasuke too. "And in the end, you're most likely going to get burned for trying to get too close."

Sayuki glanced at him. "I guess I'm lucky I'm not in love then..." Sayuki said flatly. Sakura looked at her, an obvious look of shock on her face. Sayuki blinked, and her mind wandered to a few weeks ago. "Have you seen Gaara lately?" Sakura's shock turned to curiosity at the mention of his name. She twisted her lips, licking them before she spoke.

"I've seen him lately, but I heard he's keeping a low profile." Sakura explained, tapping her free fingers against the desk she sat in. She looked at Karin who looked back at the same time. They gave each other looks of disgust, before Sakura turned back to Sayuki. "Because of them that is. Apparently if he does anything he'll be kicked from the school. He's already been a bunch of trouble, so why would they believe he's in trouble? Apparently if he gets expelled from here, there's nowhere else for him." Sakura stopped tapping. "It's unfair, but that's how it works. It's only what I've heard though, so it may be untrue and he's just hiding for the sake of it. Although I doubt it. He did have a pretty rough past, but that's just a bunch of rumours too."

Sayuki just nodded. She had sworn she saw shots of his bright red hair in the crowds of students between classes. She was only in three of his classes, but he was in the far back, where she couldn't stare of even steal a glance of him without being caught by the teacher. "You're not going to try and help him like you do with others?"

Sakura blinked a few times, dropping the few strands of hair that had caught her attention. She twisted her lips as she considered her words. Finally after a few moments she spoke, her usual confidence seeming to dim. "He's a boy. He can handle himself right? What sort of guy would want a girl helping him defend himself...? Wouldn't he feel shame?" Sakura's questioned seemed more like she was pleading Sayuki to leave it at that. For some reason it unsettled Sayuki though, and she continued.

"But you've helped other guys before, right? Why is he any different than them?" Sakura's eyes averted to the ground. She silently brushed her hair back. She looked so serious it made Sayuki choke on any words she had. Was Sakura scared too? But Sayuki had thought she was fearless. Sayuki gulped; opening her mouth to speak. "Are you scared of them too?" Her voice was small, filled with fear her new friend wasn't as strong as she thought. Not strong enough to protect Sayuki.

Sakura's head shot up though, her eyes wide. She shook her head violently, the blur of her pink hair whipping across her face so it was invisible. "No, no! That's not it. They don't scare me at all." Her voice seemed frantic. She calmed down after that. Sayuki's wide eyes stared expectantly at her, demanding an answer. "It's just..." Sakura looked to the ground again; shame covered her face. "To be honest I'm scared of him. Almost more than anyone else. But..." She paused. She glanced slowly to where Sasuke sat. "For some reason he hates Gaara more passionately than the rest. He's what scares me the most. I'm scared to be hated by him and if I helped Gaara..."

Sayuki clenched her skirt beneath the desk. Sakura wasn't as great as she thought. She was a coward too, and for someone like him. Sayuki squeezed her eyes shut. She didn't want the tears of disappointment to leak through. Even though her facade of Sakura was crushed, she still didn't want the girl to see her embarrassing moment. She still wanted her friend to be with her, heroine or not.

Sayuki pushed her chair back violently, and cautiously opened her eyes to look at the wide-eyed shocked Sakura. Sayuki smiled as best as she could. It didn't seem to comfort Sakura any, but she couldn't stay there any longer. She quickly stepped backwards towards the door, and she heard someone curse to someone behind her. She whipped around, her side hitting someone. Even though it hadn't been that strong a hit, the person fell, unexpecting of the sudden attack.

"Oh my god!" Sayuki's heart stopped at the shriek. She had started a domino game of people. Her eyes were unfocused, blurring the few people on the ground. After a moment, they began to squirm and her eyes focused. Her apology lost as she looked at the group on the floor. She gasped, and suddenly she couldn't breathe anymore. She stepped backwards, away from them. The tears she had tried to stop before came rushing out. She brought her hands to face to cover her mouth.

"Who the fuck hit us!?" The girlish voice shriek pierced the classroom, getting anyone's attention that hadn't already been looking. Sayuki could see the faces of others outside the class staring at her in pity before they quickly shuffled away. There was going to be a bomb, and Sayuki had nowhere to hide from the explosion. Nowhere.