Title: Disadvantaged Children
Rating: R


Chapter Sixteen

"Why are we doing this?"

Sweat clings to two bodies, like a pool of sticky heat. Two boys, one heart beating. Naruto's never felt this way. He wants to hold the smaller boy in his arms and never, ever let go.

"Do what, Gaara?"

Gaara turns, eyes full of lust and driven sparks. His hands, still warm from the night's events, caress Naruto's arm absentmindedly, almost as if they have their own mind. The thin and worn down sheets cling to their naked bodies, barely covering the secret between them.

"What is this emotion that I'm feeling right now? I don't understand it."

Naruto brushes closer, teasing with his lips, tracing a pattern on his lover's neck. Gaara groans and Naruto leans back, sly delight in his eyes. "Describe it to me."

Gaara manages to get his composure back, even though the blond before him is roaming his body with talented hands. "I see you and me in the future, living, breathing together. I feel safe, secure..."

Naruto pauses from his ministrations with a hopeful look in that whiskered face. He doesn't know what to think, because Gaara rarely expresses his emotions. "Happy?"

For a moment, Naruto thinks he's made a mistake, because Gaara grabs him by the arm and looks at him with those intense, smoky eyes. Naruto loves drowning in those eyes, because it's like he's falling, falling deeper into the heat that's swirling between them, almost suffocating him in emotions.

"Always."

Naruto laughs and it's that happy, carefree laughter, the one that makes Gaara's breath catch in his throat. Without another thought, Naruto suddenly takes Gaara's head and pulls him forward. Their lips collide, a furious battle for domination, but as always, Naruto concedes at the last minute. The hot tongue slicks in and out, causing the blond to moan into the heavenly mouth. He wanted this forever. It didn't matter if the night took place in an orphanage bed or a bench. Naruto wanted this.

His thoughts are interrupted when the red-haired boy, the same boy with the crooning voice and the constant loyalty and the squirming body, pulls apart and gazes intently at Naruto's flushed cheeks and his sandy-blond hair. The whispers come, like they always do.

"What have you done to me, Uzumaki Naruto?"

And Naruto responds in the only way he can. With hands that know every angle, every line of his lover's body, Naruto gently runs a hand down the smooth curve of Gaara's stomach. Down, down, with Gaara moaning his name, until he's grasping the throbbing member and licking, biting, every inch of that pale skin.

And right before Gaara comes in that one breathless groan, right before Gaara falls into Naruto's arms and sleeps until the morning, Naruto allows himself to answer. Just this once.

"I've given you love."

xx

"Oi, dickless! It's time for breakfast!"

I crack open a eye and groan when I see Sai hovering above me. His smirk outshines the sun, but I'm too groggy to care. The remnants of a hazy dream still cling to me, trying to sink into my skin, even though I can't remember a thing. Maybe it's the faint taste of arousal, but I have a feeling that the dream had to do with him.

A weight suddenly jumps on my stomach and I 'oof' in surprise. Pulling the comforter off my head, I glare at my oblivious teammate. He looks much healthier than he did a week ago, even if he still smells like paint and charcoal. His legs are crossed on top of my chest while his lips are curved in a small smile.

"You're evil," I grumble while preparing to pull the blankets over my head. But Sai doesn't agree, because he stops me by putting his hands down on the bed, on both sides of my head.

"What were you dreaming about?" His tone isn't nosy or even curious. The stern look he's giving me tells me that I'm not allowed to lie. It's weird, but it's like he suddenly has the right to know who I am.

I shrug and Sai's eyes narrow. We stare at each other for a second before I sigh. "I don't know." I smile wryly when the pale boy squints at me. "It's nothing. Really."

"You shouldn't lie," he says bluntly, but hops off me anyway. He then calmly brushes his shirt and stares at me pointedly. "The Second Event is today. Are you ready?"

I grin and stretch my sore muscles, blankets pooling by my side. "Why should you care? What happened to Mr. I-Don't-Have-A-Team?"

He looks away, mumbling softly. "But I do. You and Sakura changed everything."

I stare at him for a minute and his face becomes a pale pink. I suddenly feel an overwhelming fondness for the boy and I leap out of my bed, ruffling my fuzzy hair and holding a pillow in one hand. "Ya big softie, Sai!" I chuckle. "At this rate, we're really going to win all the Events and points, especially if you do that thing where you intimidate everyone b-"

And that's when I feel a cool breeze on my ass.

Sai raises an eyebrow, gaze lingering downwards. "You're naked."

I blink then slowly turn my head towards the bed. Orange boxers peek out from underneath the covers. I blink again. And then I remember how freakishly hot the room had been in the middle of the night.

"Your penis really is-"

Thanks to my superb aim, Sai never finishes his sentence because a pillow hits him straight in the face. Sai's dazed swaying gives me the time to climb back into bed and hide under the covers, my hands creeping desperately to find my misplaced boxers.

"..below average."

I blush under the safety of my blankets. "Liar!" My voice is muffled, but I continue anyway. "And why the hell was it so hot in here last night? We always have the AC on!"

There's a long silence. I frown, before Sai finally speaks. "I turned it off."

I wiggle out from the blankets, so my head is the only thing that pops out to stare accusingly at Sai. He doesn't even have the decency to look apologetic. Instead, he just shakes his head at my ridiculously-swathed body. "You started shivering during the middle of the night, Naruto. I didn't want to hear your teeth chattering while I slept."

He thoughtfully taps his chin with his slim finger, before shrugging. "I also predicted that you'd.. shed your clothes."

I glare at him, clutching my blanket closer to my body. "Creep."

He chuckles, and comes closer to ruffle my hair. "I wanted to see what the big deal was."

"Eh?"

"You haven't noticed, dickless? There are a select few in this Mansion who seem to take an unhealthy interest in you."

I smirk. "As it should be!" I pause then point at Sai. "And you're one to talk! You're the one who wanted to see me naked!"

Sai's black hair falls in his face as he shakes his head with a sigh. "Well, all my hard work paid off and I must say that your appeal completely escapes reasoning. You, Uzumaki Naruto, are a little on the scrawny side, sorely lacking in dick size, and a complete idiot."

"Oh geez, thanks." I grumble under my breath then pout. "Try to refrain from bloating my ego, would y-?"

"But." Sai hesitantly raises an arm to my face and stops my words. Before I can protest, a pale finger traces down my cheek. It's like he's trying to memorize what he's drawing on my face, and for a second, I get lost in that cool tingling on my skin. Sai's voice, when he speaks, is soft. "But you are Uzumaki Naruto. And that's part of the appeal, isn't it?"

I don't know what to say because my throat is dry from the solemn atmosphere. Sai always had the ability to leave me breathless and at times, like now, he becomes a complete mystery. He told me numerous times that he considered me like a brother, but then he'd pull stunts like this.. Like this intimacy. This bond.

I lean into the cool touch, even though it goes against all reasoning. Hell, my whole life defied normalcy. A minute passes and I feel a tremor of disappointment when Sai stops lightly drawing on my face. I'm about to speak until Sai's finger slowly curves down to briefly touch my mouth. Confusion settles on my face and I look up at Sai, only to be met with his impassive eyes.

"I'll help you, Naruto. But don't forget that I need you too."

Times freezes for just one second. One second of staring into those eyes of pain, of a past tinged with blood and death. For one second.. I forget myself... and see a future. But then time catches up and the scene becomes two little boys, trying to understand each other through the tinted glass of a memory museum.

I gently take Sai's hand and lower it from my face. "Let's go to breakfast, ok?"

Sai smirks. "Agreed."

And that's when I know that Sai will always understand, if only for that one second.


"..Wow, Sandy! I can't believe how powerful the SharkJet251 is! Look at the way it sucks up all that fluid. You know, I've never thought a vacuum coul-"

Click

"-anging from a clliiiiiiiiiiffff! And that's why he's called cliffhanger-"

Click

...though we haven't been able to get more information, there appears to be suspicious activity north of Konoha. Reports of strange figures in black have proliferated.."

Click

I yawn then pat my full belly, almost knocking over the bowl of ramen by my side. Even though I normally ate lunch in the cafeteria, sometimes I stayed in the dorm lounge, eating my birthday present of ramen and channel-surfing without interruptions. I stretch then look around the lounge, smiling fondly at the couch that Rock Lee beat up every time Sakura rejected him, the ping-pong table in the center of the room, and the overall homey environment. A far cry from before...

A noise alerts my ears and I swivel around in my seat. But the only thing I see is the back door closing and a figure's shadow through the window. I frown and crane my neck even further, and right before the figure disappears, I recognize the casual swagger, the crazy ponytail.

Huh. Why wasn't Shikamaru at lunch like everyone else was? Come to think of it, the lazy slacker had been extremely secretive for a while now. He rarely went to class, always remaining silent about his whereabouts, and came back smelling like.. I scrunch my nose, trying to remember the exact scent. Something sweet.

And just where was he going? Didn't he know about the Second Event? Of course, he didn't have to worry, considering that his Team was currently in the lead.

"But not for long!" I mutter under my breath, making a cheesy victory sign, before jumping out of the couch and walking to the door. He wasn't going to fool me with his nonchalance. I was going to find out Shikamaru's secrets! And then report back to Team Naruto and dominate this stupid points thing.

I snicker then creep outside, catching a glimpse of Shikamaru before he turns the corner. The hot sun beats down on my neck, while the loud wind provides the perfect cover for my noisy steps. Trees pass, a blurring reminder of the First Event and I can't help but wonder about this boy that I'm following. So many mysteries, so little time. We turn another corner of the main building and I pause to stare briefly at the main doors, stained with all its glory. A month. Only a month.

And what's happened since then, Naruto? You've changed.

I jolt from my thoughts when I hear the scuffle of shoes coming from Shikamaru's direction. With a slight salute at the repaired doors, I happily continue stalking Shikamaru, occasionally ducking into random buildings and hallways to avoid being caught. Shikamaru casually breezes past the swimming pool with its clear, sky-green waters and the many tennis courts until he finally pauses right in the middle of the sparkling fountain that's spilling its exuberance. I can almost hear his brain silently working as he rubs his chin, the picture-picture of contemplation.

And then he turns left. I quickly follow him, eyeing the cool waters of the fountain with envy, until he suddenly speeds up and turns, disappearing from my sight. A little panicked, I make a face then run to the corner, almost tripping when I turn.

And then it's right there, right in front of me. The ivy and leaves over the archway are beautiful, something that I've only seen in picture books. I've never seen it before, probably because of its well-hidden location, but it's the perfect balance of nature and man. Blossoms and pretty trees hovering carefully over the clearing barely hide the lone figure walking straight into that road of green.

I hesitantly walk into the enclosing bushes and the sweet smell invades my senses. With one eye on Shikamaru, I gape at the sheer amount of plants that welcome me with every step I take. All different kinds, all preciously carved by nature, and there's so many colors that are beyond description. Bright fuchsia, some turquoise petals, deep hues of pink and splashes of shocking yellow. Everywhere I turn, flowers softly greet me, beckoning and almost pleading for attention.

Looking further ahead, I can see that the archway expands into a garden with flowers in each and every row. Shikamaru's already inside the glass, meandering down the long rows, stooping occasionally to gently touch each spiral of color. I'm stuck between the gateway of uncertainty, but one more look at the garden entices me to step into the glass, where I'm safe and sound in tranquility. Since I'm no longer avoiding him, he's probably seen me by now, but he ignores me, too absorbed in each corner of dirt and grass.

I should feel trapped by now, but instead, I'm breathing in the saccharine air, casually touching each stem of flowers that I pass. How could I feel threatened in an atmosphere that seems as relaxed as Shikamaru? My gaze draws to Shikamaru, who's stopped in front of one particular ball of flower. There's a smile on his face, but it's small, slight, sad.

Do you get it, Naruto? You're not the only one..

I step forward, but a shadier area screams at me with its tainted flowers. Droplets of white are the only visible things amidst a sea of black silk petals, but it's still beautiful. Unbelievable. Smells of faint strawberries and cream swirl around me, intoxicating when paired with these coal-black petals lined with gold. Struck, entranced, I lean forward, hands out to touch..

"You probably shouldn't touch those. They're poisonous."

Moment broken, I immediately snap my hand back with an aghast face. "These puny things? No way! I mean.." I immediately turn huge eyes on Shikamaru, who raises an eyebrow. "Whatdya mean they're poisonous?"

Shikamaru takes a step forward and carefully rearranges the plants so that the dark-red flowers are hidden behind streaks of color. "They're a cross breed between an Iris chrysograph and Monkshood, one of the most poisonous flowers in the world. It took me about six weeks to figure out how to manipulate the breeding without touching either the parent or the offspring and another six weeks to figure out how to isolate its effects from the other plants." He laughs at my lost expression. "Just don't touch it. It'll hurt."

I roll my eyes, but still step away from the deceptively innocent flowers. "Is this where you come every time you skip class?"

He laughs. "I don't have to attend class, Naruto."

"Wha?! No way!" I exclaim, almost falling over from the mind-boggling statement.

"The faculty decided a long time ago that putting me in classes would hinder more than help my development. I thought their concern was.. troublesome, especially when they told me to tend to a garden. But it worked." He stops then looks over the entire glass house, smile on his face. "This is my favorite place in the Mansion. I come here whenever I need to think or whenever I'm bored."

"Which happens a lot, right?"

He shrugs. Silence descends until he speaks again. "It's an interesting responsibility."

"Like how?" I squint at the flowers, trying to see how interesting and gardening went together.

He gestures to the spires of pink blossoms by his side. "These troublesome little things are called Passion flowers. When they first sprouted, I had to water them in little increments, six times a day. Three times in the morning, three times in the evening. I hated this responsibility. Do you know why, Naruto?"

I shake my head and he continues.

"It's because, back then, I didn't understand dependence or self-worth. Not many people do. But these flowers, these annoying things.. They depended on me, Naruto. And I owed it to them, no matter how small or troublesome they were."

"And now?"

Shikamaru laughs softly. "And now I understand the meaning of loyalty." He stops then glances over at the archway of leaves, almost as if he's peering into the heart of the Mansion. "Kakashi and Sasuke... Those two know what they're doing. It's a pity that the latter doesn't know himself."

I turn to Shikamaru, puzzled, but he's already moved on to the next flower. I'm about to follow him, but I stop, staring once again at the inky, silky flowers in front of me. They were beautiful, yes, but there was something odd about how they were placed. Carefully, lovingly, knowingly. I frown, scratching my head, and peer closer at the poisonous blossoms. Odd.

With wide eyes, I avert my gaze from the addicting flowers. "Hey, Shikamaru?"

"Hn?"

"These uhh... black flowers? You know, the poisonous ones?" I sheepishly grin. "They're growing in the shadows. I mean, it's kind of weird. And come to think of it, most of these flowers aren't anywhere near the sunlight. Is there some kind of dirt you're using?"

A look of startled surprise flashes in Shikamaru's face so quickly that I almost miss it. "No."

I tilt my head, confused. "Then what's the deal? Darkness can't be good for the flowers."

"No, no it's not." Shikamaru sighs then runs a hand through his hair, sweat dropping down his forehead. "I can't explain it. It's just something I can do."

"Eh?"

He smiles at the look on my face then shakes his head. "Don't worry about it, Naruto. Just... enjoy the scenery."

I nod, then drink in the silence that follows, almost getting drunk on the feeling of nature's art and Shikamaru's words. That same relaxation twirls through the entire garden, ruffling my hair and the flowers with their exotic petals and contours. I open my eyes and find that Shikamaru's moved towards the big ball of purple flowers again, and it's that same, solemn, sad look. When I can't stand it anymore, I walk towards him and peer down at the flower.

"Nee, what's so great about this one, Shikaaa?" I squint at the flowers, with their curving, delicate twists and turns, all forming into one cohesive unit. They were working together, as a team, to produce this mass of memory for one lone, genius.

Shikamaru sighs and shakes his head before speaking quietly, softly. "It's a hyracinth."

I look up, waiting for more, but Shikamaru puts his hands in his pocket and moves on to the next flower. We spend the next hour looking at each flower, and I realize that most of them had a use for the Mansion; St. Johns Worts cured depression while the Passion flowers, the violently pink flowers that Shikamaru had pointed out earlier, regularly helped inhabitants of the Mansion to temper aggressive behavior. And throughout Shikamaru's tour of the garden, he spoke with care, like these flowers were his.

It made sense.. to see Shikamaru blend perfectly with the shadows of the garden. Working, forever working, to prove his worth in a worthless world.

It's not until we've finished and I'm about to step out of the glass and back into the real, that I hear Shikamaru murmur something under his breath. I turn around and he's in front of those same, purple flowers again. I don't understand, especially the words that are haltingly spilled from weary lips.

"I'm sorry. I'll always be sorry."


The Main Hall is abuzz with excited whispers and almost stifled by all the bodies crowded into its expansive, burnished space. I'm giddy from the atmosphere whereas my two teammates are glaring at the competition around us. The scoreboard, easy to overlook because of its almost hidden location and the unnoticeable white paper, is the focus of attention among all the Teams. The tension is thicker than usual, as well as the flurry of emotions that strikes each person.

"Look at the Mist Dorm! It's Team A winning!"

"No surprise there. No one wants to anger Haku and Zabuza."

"...Who's Team 5 of the Leaf Dorm? They'd better watch out cuz Team 7 is almost about to-"

"No way! Team 7 has that Naruto kid."

"Wait, isn't he the friend of-"

The conversation fades away as the door opens. Shaking my head, I grin at Sakura and Sai, who are nervously pacing. The rest of the people in the hall straighten up and it's not long before a faculty member walks into the room. He blinks at us, then scratches the side of his face before pointing to the far side of the room.

"You guys know the drill. Split up and find where each dorm will meet. The Second Event will start very shortly."

I sigh as the shoving and pushing abruptly begin as everyone rushes to find the room with their symbol on it. The crowd soon trickles to my dorm and I make eye contact with Shikamaru, who raises an eyebrow at me. I stick out my tongue, only to be struck on the head, lightly, by Sakura.

"Naruto! No fraternizing with the enemy!"

Ino suddenly rushes to my side. "Ne, Sakura! Just because you're jealous of how many points my Team has doesn't mean that we can't all be friends!" She makes a face at Sakura then takes my hand, giving me a simpering look. "Naruto-kun, why don't you tell us how your Team got so many points? I mean, wasn't it the other day that you got all those points taken off because Ki-"

"Ino. Don't be troublesome."

The blond girl pouts then lets go of my hand. I give her a weird look then massage my hand, trying to rub her flirting away. But Ino's already gotten the attention of everyone in the room, and I laugh nervously at the pair of eyes staring my way.

"Well, err.. I mean. I didn't get most of the points. It was mostly Sakura and Sa-"

"Don't be stupid, dickless. You did just as much as we did."

Sakura interjects, nodding. "Yeah, Naruto. Most of the time, you motivated us during class." She glares at Ino. "And if Ino-pig just minded her own business.."

Ino cracks her knuckles, tension firing from her clear, blue eyes. "So I can't be friendly anymore? Really, Sakura, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you were jealous."

The temperature in the room suddenly drops ten degrees when Sakura's eyes flicker into a shallow pool of dark green. "If I remember correctly, jealousy caused your gang to ambush my gang. On my birthday."

"Are you still on about that? That happened ages ago. And you deserved it. Flaunting your worthless skill, when really, my skill was the true power on the streets."

The two girls step closer to each other, and there's visible tension in both of their bodies. A little uneasy, I raise a hand to try and stop the hostility in the air. In the corner of my eyes, I also see Chouji hesitantly putting a hand Ino's shoulder and Rock Lee tilting his head in confusion.

"You know, things haven't changed, Ino-chan. You're still a scared little girl, who can't tell when to stop."

"Yeah? Is that why you were on your knees, begging me to spare your best frie-"

"Shut up! I hate you! I never should have saved your life!"

"How do you think I feel? My entire gang gave their lives because of you."

"Your gang was pathetic."

"How dare y-"

BANG

The door flies open and a huge mass of tight green spandex hops into the room, baring all.

"IT'S A GREAT DAY TO BE ALIVE! OHOHOHO."

A drop of gel flicks from the bowl cut as Gai Lee swerves his head towards us and grins with blindingly white teeth and squinty eyes.

"WHAT IS THIS I SEE?! A FERVENT DISPLAY OF YOUTH? SAKURA AND INO, YOU TWO BEAUTIFUL LADIES ARE THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF YOUTH! COME HERE AND INDULGE ME WITH SUCH BEAUTY!"

The teacher suddenly clasps both Sakura and Ino's hands then sways on the balls of his feet, hearts in his eyes. Amused, I watch as Sakura and Ino twitch from annoyance. The two girls then look at each other before nodding with understanding.

POW

A second later sees a lump on Gai Lee's head and Sakura and Ino walking away, brushing their hands with satisfaction. The entire room breathes a sigh of relief and snickers at Gai Lee's tactlessness. Rock Lee quickly rushes to aid his mentor, who just grins and shrugs off the help.

"Forgive me, youthful creatures! We must not be delayed in triumph and success!" He does a funny dance then strikes a pose. "For today, I, Gai-sensei, will oversee the Second Event!"

Sai calmly raises his hand then asks. "Are you drunk?"

Our furry-eyebrowed counselor face plants then hops back to his feet, swaying slightly. "Delightful question, my youthful Sai. But today, I have no time to talk about me for this is about you!" He makes a fist then thrusts it at us.

"Let... The Second Event begin."

A hush runs over the group and we wait for our fate.

And wait.

And wait some more.

Gai Lee blinks then puts down his fist before muttering angrily. "Oh, Kakashi-sensei! You have surpassed me once again. But never fear! One day, I will pause for dramatic effect and be cooler than you!"

He pauses then straightens up, back to cheerfully grinning at us. "A momentary problem, nothing more, children!"

I twitch. Sai glares. Shikamaru sighs. Rock Lee beams. Gai Lee coughs then takes something out of his pocket. We all freeze before letting out our breath when he starts distributing small pieces of folded paper to everyone in the room. I take mine and read the front, which says 'DO NOT OPEN.'

I frown, confused, and watch Gai Lee clear his throat then clap his hands. "In your hands, you have the key to uncovering fifty golden points for your Team. Unlike the First Event, the Second Event is FUN AND LIGHTHEARTED!" Gai Lee laughs heartily as he sees us look at each other in puzzlement. "This Event is to test your knowledge of one specific person!"

Sakura hesitantly raises her hand. "Is this related to the kitchen duty that every Team went through?"

Gai beams then flashes a thumbs-up. "The revered Sasuke-san decided to implement a punishment that would make every Team spend some time with all the other teams. And what better way to cultivate friendships than by sharing the burden of youthful mistakes?!"

He stops then turns to the entire group. "OPEN THE PAPER, DEAR CHILDREN!"

After glaring at Gai Lee, (I mean, how many times could the guy call us children?) I tentatively finger then open the paper. Only three simple words.

I like fishing.

I look up quickly, only to see that the other people are just as confused as I am. Fishing? And who liked fishing? Me? I think a little bit more, before remembering that Gai Lee had told us that the Second Event was a test of our knowledge.. About one person. But really? Fifty points just for this little strip of paper?

"Ahh, I can see the confusion in your faces, even in my protégé, Rock Lee! It's simple, really. Everyone in this room got a piece of paper that said 'I like something.' Your job, in order to get the reward, is to discover who the person is."

I furrow my eyebrows. "What?! This could be talking about anyone! There are a million people in the Mansion."

Gai Lee grins, an action that I'm starting to get sorely irritated by, then shakes his head. "Ah, but the beauty of this Event is that your person is probably in this very room." A stream of noise follows this admission, and Gai waves his hands to silence the room. "That's right! You had better know everyone in the Leaf Dorm, because fifty points depends on it!"

Chouji puffs his face then raises his hand. "What are the rules?"

Gai clears his throat and claps his hands. "There are only a few rules for this Event, so listen up! One. You are not allowed to talk to anyone about this Event. This means that you can't ask for help, show anyone your paper, or ask questions related to your paper. Second. The Event will last for one week. Third. The first Team to have all of the members correctly guess their person will get fifty points. However, if a Team member guesses incorrectly, he or she will have no more chances."

He looks straight at us and the grin is gone. "One try. That's it."

He sees our nods then opens the door. "All right then, my lovely blossoming flowers! Be on your way out and shine through youth!"

A little dazed from the excess of green suit, white teeth, and the word 'youth,' I stumble out the room with Sakura and Sai by my side. Unlike the rest of the group, which is headed towards their classes, my Team and I continue walking in silence to our dorm. I can almost imagine what they're thinking in the aftermath of this Event.

Who? Who are you?

I look down at my paper again and frown. It didn't help that I had taken the kitchen duty pretty lightly, without thinking much of the other Team. And just one try. The pressure was enormous, just like everything in the Mansion.

Three words. They were so simple. Then why was I already frustrated?

I like fishing.

I turn my head to gaze at Sai, who's frowning at his own paper. Who did he have? And who had me? What did the strip of paper about me say? Head bursting from the questions, I growl and shove the paper into my pocket. I'd have to do some sneaking around later to find out who my mysterious person is...

After minutes of walking, we finally reach our dorm rooms. My head is still swirling from the possibilities, so it takes me a moment to hear the words coming from Sakura's lips.

"We're.. We're going to win this."

I pause, hand on the door. Sai, besides me, smirks and nods while Sakura looks at me with hopeful, sky-green eyes. I smile at my Team, wondering how I had gotten so lucky. "Of course we are!"

Opening the door, I look back and stick out my tongue.

"How could we lose? We're Team 7!"


AN: God. The most difficult chapter ever. (But don't worry! The next chapter will have a lot of sassukeee, yay!)

I wanted to update twice a week, but that would include weekly little boy interludes. However, that's robbing everyone of narusasu, so I'm going to tone down on the little boy's story. So, with school and all this writing, I think it'll be more convenient for everyone if I just update once a week. :)

REVIEWERS THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! You guys have made my life ten times better! I grin far too much lately. :)))) Also, I've gotten a lot slower at replying back to reviews, but don't worry! It might take a week, but I'll get to yours. Hopefully.