Mshinata: I'm back from California! Unfortunately…my cousin and I didn't finish our chapter on our other fan fic. –Sighs- Oh well…we'll finish it soon. Actually, we went to Yosemite for five days (including 2 days driving). So…we barely had any time. We wrote down a lot though, so that's good. xD

Sasuke: You are so irresponsible.

Mshinata: PSHHH, WELL…I went rafting! It was worth it.

Sasuke: You fell in the river three times.

Mshinata: -blushes- S-SHUT UP! ACTUALLY, it was two times! My cousin (blahIMtooLAZYblah) pushed me in once. The second time I tried to jump in the water but it was deep and freezing cold. The third time…I accidently fell in because of a sharp turn…LOL.

Sasuke: Wow.

Mshinata: YES…I procrastinate. I'm sorry. It's a bad habit of mine.

Sasuke: Have you ever heard the song, "Breaking the Habit"?

Mshinata: Yes. You should know that I love Linkin Park to death. Aww…I love people who like my HOMEMADE cookies instead of Sasuke's STORE BOUGHT cheesecake. –Shifty eyes-

Sasuke: Who DOESN'T like cheesecake?!

Mshinata: Me. Because I suck. –Sad face- I do not own Naruto. If I did, Itachi would be gnawing at Sasuke's soul…MUAHAHAHA!

UGH! ME AND MY BIG MOUTH! Naruto thought to himself as he shoved his hands into his pockets. Hinata-chan seemed surprised when I told her…I wonder how she feels. He sighed as he kept walking in the halls. He didn't have the appetite for lunch anymore…even though he usually ate a lot.

"Naruto," A certain pink-haired and emerald-eyed Sasuke fan girl called his attention, "what's wrong?" Naruto shook his head.

"Iie. It's nothing, Sakura." He said. She stiffened a bit.

"You didn't put the suffix…" She muttered to herself.

"Eh?" He blinked.

"O-oh…Iie." She shook her head and put on a fake smile. "Where's Sasuke-kun?" She tried to change the subject, although it was the wrong subject. He averted her gaze.

"I have no idea. Why don't you ask one of your friends?" Every word coming out of his mouth right then was filled with frustration. He brushed her aside and walked past her, their shoulders slightly brushing against each other.

"Naruto…" Sakura turned around and watched his retreating back.


Hinata said her good-byes to Ino and Gaara. She had not seen Naruto or Sasuke since lunch. She thought they were having a bad day, so it would've been best to leave them alone.

She made her way through the halls and finally outside. She headed towards the outside basketball court.

"Ah…so you came, after all." Neji said in his…cold and emotionless tone as he leaned on the gate fence that was surrounding the basketball court. He looked her way with a serious expression and suddenly stuffed his hands into his pockets.

"Hai…I would not miss this…Nii-san." Hinata said with an unusual seriousness.

"Hime…" He knelt down like a knight and gently kissed her hand, "…I thought you've forgotten about me." He said against her hand, his breath very tickling and warm. Her hand stiffened under his lips.

"…you made a promise with me. To forget promises is…wrong." She replied.

"Yes…" Neji let go of her hand and stood up, "And I intend to keep that promise," He continued, "that is why…" She saw it coming. She really did. She just didn't want to admit it.

She had just started to get to know Sasuke better…and the whole Uchiha family. They had been so kind…despite the fact that she had only lived there for a short time.

"You must come home."


"Where's Hinata?" Sasuke asked as he was in the classroom, packing all of his homework into his school bag.

"She said she had somewhere to go after school." Ino replied as she did the same. "She kind of rushed out on me." She gave a nervous chuckle.

"…so you don't know where she is?" Sasuke raised a brow.

"That's rude, Sasuke." Gaara butted in.

"This is none of your business, Gaara." Sasuke gave a mini-glare to Gaara.

"Oh…but in an indirect way, it is." Gaara replied. Ino sweat dropped. Sometimes, nobody could understand what Gaara was saying.

"And no, Sasuke-kun." Ino replied. "Speaking of missing people, did Naruto come back from lunch?"

"Wow…school is over and you've finally noticed." Gaara rolled his eyes as he slung his school bag over his shoulder.

"Hey! It's not my fault…" Ino said, grabbing her school bag and following the two guys out of the classroom.

Sasuke thought about the confession with Naruto and Hinata. He loved her…yes. He knew that, but…what was this "first sight" thing? That's what confused him the most. Not like he cared or anything, but she was his maid! He had to approve of the things she did in the Uchiha estate.

The trio walked out of the school building and started heading towards the sidewalks and streets.

"Hey…" Ino stopped halfway as her gaze was focused at the outside basketball courts, "what are those two people doing out by the basketball courts? Basketball season hasn't started yet." She pointed towards the basketball courts.

"It's where admirers in this school confess their love. It's also a good place for people to break up." Gaara said it bluntly.

"How do you know this?" Sasuke sweat dropped.

"But…that is strange." Gaara said, ignoring Sasuke completely.

"Maybe we should see who those people are…just in case it's not a mugger or something." Ino said worriedly.

"I don't need another Hinata, Ino. Stop worrying. It's probably nothing." Sasuke said, turning back and heading home.

"…I guess you're right." Ino said, reluctant to continue walking. She followed Sasuke, but Gaara stood there, staring at the two tiny figures.

"I…have a bad feeling. Naruto…what would you have done…?" Gaara muttered to himself.


"Tadaima," Sasuke called as he took off his shoes. The house was completely quiet…well…it was usually quiet (with the exception of his mother), but then it was eerily quiet. He shrugged it off and went to his room. Just when he was about to open his room's door knob, he heard quiet sobbing. He knew that no male Uchiha would dare cry, so it had to be his mother…right?

He changed his direction and headed towards his parents' room. He slightly opened the door and saw his mother sobbing in her hands while she sat on her bed.

"O-Okaa-san!" Sasuke slammed the door open and ran towards the crying woman.

"S-Sasuke!" Mikoto saw her son as she flustered and tried to dry her tears with her sleeves.

"Why were you crying, Okaa-san?" Sasuke said caringly.

"I…wasn't crying." Mikoto said and faced the other way. Oh great…now she decides to be a prideful Uchiha. Sasuke inwardly sighed.

"You were crying."

Mikoto's tears came back and cried into her son's arms. He was awkward with moments like these (-ahem- hence the time at the market with Hinata). He didn't know what to do, so he thought of the moment with Hinata. He tried to stroke his mother's back and calm her down. After he thought she was calmed down, he decided to speak.

"What's wrong, Okaa-san?" He asked back to his serious tone.

"I…I was…" Mikoto hesitated until she finally spoke, "…I was worried that your father and your brother won't be able to make dinner tonight!" She said, the tears coming back. Sasuke sweat dropped.

Women…I swear. Sasuke rolled his eyes, "You're too sensitive, Okaa-san. They won't die or anything…well…no promises for Itachi, but still." His mother chuckled and wiped a tear from her eye. He stood up and smirked.

"What's wrong, Sasuke?" His mother asked. Her cheeks still stained with tears.

"You are such a bad liar, Okaa-san."


Naruto lied on his side on his bed. He couldn't think straight. He faked being sick and skipped the rest of the school day. He knew it was wrong, but…a teenage boy has hormones! That's a good enough excuse to excuse you from class, ne?

His hands fisted as he thought about Sasuke and Hinata. He wanted to help Hinata. Lately, she had been acting strange. He wanted her to tell him everything…just like she probably told him everything. The façade of them not being cousins was bound to be found out sometime.

He wanted an answer from Hinata.

To be continued…

Mshinata: I stand corrected. THIS IS THE SHORTEST CHAPTER EVA!

Sasuke: MA'AM, YOU SUCK!

Mshinata: -twitch- I have to finish my other chapters as well. I barely got any done for my other fan fic with my cousin. We went to Yosemite and that took up half my vacation.

Sai: Review or she's not going to update…ever.

Mshinata: Sai-kun, that's not nice! Of course I'll update! I promise!