Me: Hey peeps! The hols are here...and gone. Hn. I meant to post this up during the hols but you know...what with writer's block and all...T_T;;

Innerselves: Oh the joy. Does this mean you'll update more frequently now?

Me: Maybe I will...Then again, maybe I won't.

Innerselves: Make up your damn mind, won't you? She doesn't own Naruto and please stop reading if you don't like this fanfic^^. -Hides sharp pointy weapons behind their backs-

Warnings: Rock Lee & Maito Gai supporters should not take any hostility shown towards these two in this chappie to heart. Believe it or not I actually think they're pretty

cool. Sometimes.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Flashback:-

Over at the tower, Emily and everyone else already at the tower heard Elaine's shout of "GAAAAHH...! IT'S LEEEEEEEEE...!" Was that Eli-chan's voice I just heard? Nah...I'm just

thinking too much about her...I miss her so. "Damn it, imouto! When I see you I'm gonna pinch you within an inch of your life! Just you wait and see...!" Emily said as she conveniently

ignored the weirded out stares from the other, normal genin.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxX

x

Back to the present time...

x

"Damnit Lee! Don't scare me like that! Say...do you know the direction to the tower in the middle of this freakin forest?"

"I am the Handsome Devil of the Hidden Leaf Village! My name is Rock Lee!" Completely ignoring me, the Maito Gai look-alike said as he flashed that ever famous pose of his

complete with bushy eyebrows, unfashionable bowl cut, brilliant-white teeth and all.

Unwillingly, my eye started twitching a little as I stared up into that blinding, supposedly-charming smile. Charming my ass. It's bad enough that he thinks Gai is the epitome of

cool...he's the same freakin age as nee-chan and I!

I was startled back into reality as I realized he was offering me a hand to help me up. I graced him with a small smile before I grabbed his hand and pulled myself up. "What is your

name, fair angel?"

Inwardly, I grimaced before I replied, "The name's Elaine Suoh. You can call me Eli-chan, somehow Suoh-san and Elaine-san sounds weird...er." -Shrugs-

"Alright...Eli-chan!" Hn...Lee seems happy about something...Hmmph. Whatever.

xx

"So...what is a beautiful young woman like yourself doing in the middle of this dangerous place?"

Unfortunately, both my hands were shaking. The urge to strangle something, preferably someone's windpipe, was getting near uncontrollable. I'm not really a violent person myself...

-cough-the Kiba incident is totally irrelevant though-cough-...but what the heck is this fashion-challenged idiot saying?! Is he mocking me...?!

Gathering the last of my strength left, I managed to shoot my most winning, albeit a little crooked, smile at him as I asked, "Umm...Lee-san? I think I'm lost...Would a strong,

handsome genin such as yourself please help me find my way to the tall tower in the middle of this scary forest...? I need to find my sister there...please Lee-san? Will you help me

find her there?"...I even threw in some fake tears...Oh dear God, I am officially sick and disgusted at myself. Where has my ever-present dignity gone?! Mm...It probably went for a

little trip with my stomach, leaving hunger pangs and sore feet as leftovers...Wonderful. Even my body is against me.

"Please call me Lee, Eli-chan! Under the youthful teachings of Gai-sensei, I, Rock Lee give my word that I will assist you in your youthful search for your sister! E-Eli-chan...!" Hmm...?

That's weird...forest floors don't just start to tilt sideways...I must be hallucinating again...Eh? Why's the ground getting closer...? As my eyelids slowly drooped close, the last thing I

heard was Lee's startled voice and Emi-chan's laughter faintly ringing in my ears.

xx

"Hahahaa..." Stifling her chuckles, Emily Suoh was passing her time by watching the antics of Kiba and Akamaru beside Team 8's shy-natured Hyuuga. Shino was watching from the

shadows as silent and serious as usual. Even the Suoh sisters have personally made it their mission in life to make Shino laugh. Although they haven't exactly made any progress

yet...But when Eli-chan gets here, we'll definitely make him laugh together. Even if it means tickling his feet with a rubber chicken! -Cough- We're not that desperate...are we? For the sake of

that rubber chicken...we'd better hope not. Alright! It's time to stop talking to myself...let's focus on doing something a little healthier...like Hina-chan! -Cough-Although that's really

something in itself-cough- Back to Hina-chan! Aww...She really is too kawaii! Not as kawaii as Eli-chan though...sigh...It's been two days since we last saw each other...I'm kinda worried

about Eli-chan...She always seems unable to remember to eat regularly or drink properly for that matter. Sigh...I feel lonely without her. On the other hand...-steals a glance- I got to see

Gaara for two whole days! Kyaaaaa...! Even now, being in the same room as him still feels like a dream come true! -Glances again, now sporting rose-coloured cheeks- So hotttt...! -Inner

fangirl squeal-...It isn't the same without imouto though...Sigh.

xx

"Ughh..." Groaning, I tentatively opened my eyes as my senses started to hone in on my surroundings. Feels like I'm lying on warm grass...mmm...that sounds like water...a river!

Speaking of which, when was the last time I tasted water? -5 seconds of silence-...I give up, I can't remember...This would be the part where I mock-faint but since I'm already lying on

the ground I figured I didn't have to. Struggling a little, I tried to sit up before two kunai thrown from what seemed to be nowhere pinned me down thus, preventing me from moving

any part of my body below my neck. "Hey, what th-"

"Only a failure would faint in the middle of a forest." A frustratingly familiar voice sounded right beside me. I sputtered indignantly as I tried to turn my head around to look at the

source of that familiar, arrogant voice, "E-excuse me?! You bastard, who the hell do you think you ar- Oh fuck. Come on...even sucking up to Lee was better than this...!" By then I

was half-delirious from the heat, I think...so while half-crying, half cursing my accursed luck I thought to myself out loud, "Why me...Why you...Why Neji...?!"

xx

xx


Ugh...writer's block was a pain in the -Beep-...! Especially the part where I had to describe Lee and everything...-Tears out clumps of hair in frustration- Pheww...Not that I've calm

down, I just have to say...Many apologies to readers if this chapter is more than a little OOC and very suckish! Oh well, I did me best. Yeahhh...I rock! Woot~! -Cough- Until the next

chapter, my peeps...!