Hello people! Hope you like this chapter and sorry for the long wait. Also I want to thank all of you guys for reading this story and supporting it. Thanks to you the story has now reached it's forty-fourth chapter and we are still in the Chunin Exams! I hope you like this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thanks to larrycucumber2, Hibiki-chan, jjayno1, Lyris88, lovingo0Kawaii0oGirl, MistFairie93, ruler of dragons, Uchiha Sasha, Valinor's Twilight, and Eterna1 for reviewing. Anyways, please review the sooner you review the sooner I update and the more reviews I receive the more I write. Now on with the story!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, but the lovely yet clumsy Rei, the dashing but cowardly Okoru, the childishly charming Zakyo and the arrogant and loyal Yu.

Chapter Forty-Four

Okoru woke up and sighed. He grudgingly go tout if bed and got ready for whatever the day would bring. However, he had no idea of the events that would take place on that sunny day. Once he was ready he headed to the kitchen to make sure Zakyo hadn't burnt anything as it was her turn to make breakfast. For the first time since they had gotten to Rei's house she would have to cook. In fact, he was the one that usually made everyone's meals. He sighed recalling their mediocre method of choosing who was to cook. It had been Rei's idea, of course.

Flashback

The two losers of the previous round got ready for what was to come. Okoru frowned and glared at his opponent as Zakyo smirked. Their hands were at the ready and their reflexes were equally sharp. The outcome of the match was unknown to everyone.Okoru felt the sweat dripping from his forehead.Zakyo frowned and scrunched up her face in concentration.Rei looked at the two and announced the start of the match.

"Rock, paper, scissors!" The two said in unison.

Zakyo smirked as Okoru growled with his hand still in the paper position while Zakyo held scissors.

"The winner is Zakyo!" Rei said.

Okoru slumped forward as Zakyo did a victory dance. Rei laughed as Yu smirked.

"Well, dear cousin of mine guess you're cooking this week." Zakyo laughed.

Okoru growled at her, but he had already resigned himself to his fate.

End Flashback

It had been like that ever since they got there. He sighed hoping he would win the next tournament. As eh got to the kitchen he was surprised to see Rei making breakfast. She turned to him and grinned.

"Good morning Okoru-kun!"

"Morning….Why are you cooking…?" He said cautiously.

"Well, Zakyo ran away to avoid cooking and you know Yu won't cook. You're too lazy and you've been cooking everyday so I thought I would give you a break." She said smiling.

"Oh, well thanks." He mumbled.

He sat down and Rei gave him his food. They started eating and soon Yu arrived with Zakyo.

"And where were you?" Rei asked Zakyo.

She grinned.

"Oh, I had some things to take care of."

"Oh, really, what kind of things?" Yu said.

Zakyo laughed nervously.

"Alright, you got me, I just didn't want to cook."

Everyone sweatdropped.

"Well, it doesn't matter anymore. Your food is ready." Rei said.

They ate and after that Yu headed to the training room followed by a whining Zakyo. Apparently she wanted Yu to help her train, but Yu kept arguing that they might have to fight each other and she didn't want Zakyo to see what she was doing. Rei laughed as she listened to her tow friends bicker. She got up and turned to Okoru.

"So, how about we go train now?"

He sighed and slumped over.

"Do we really have to?"

"Yes, you promised."

"Why can't you be nice and just offer to show me around the village? After all, I'm a guest."

"Yeah, but, you already know the village well enough to know where to hide from the fangirls." She said as she smirked.

Okoru just glared and pouted. She laughed at him and pulled him to his feet.

"Come on you lazy boy, we have to train."

Okoru smiled and shook his head.

"Fine, let's go."

They practiced for a while and stopped when Okoru got too lazy, as Rei liked to say. Afterwards they went to get some ramen and ran into Naruto.

"Hello Naruto-kun."

"Hi Rei-chan!"

"How is your training going?"

"Don't worry, I'll be really strong soon!" He said as he grinned.

Rei smiled at the other blonde.

"I'm sure you will. Oh, you remember Okoru-kun, right."

"Hello." Okoru said.

"Of course I do. He was in the exams, he fought against you right?" Naruto said.

"That's right, he's staying with me for a while since Yu and Zakyo still have to fight. Hey, you should stop by sometime."

"I'll try, but I still have to train to beat Neji."

"That's right, you better train hard! I better not see you slacking off!" She said sternly.

Naruto laughed nervously and she smiled. He turned to Okoru.

"Does, she do that often?"

"What, contradict herself, yeah.It's kind of scary actually." He said calmly.

Naruto sweatdropped as Rei smacked Okoru on the head.

"Okoru-baka, don't say things like that! You're such a jerk!"

Okoru rubbed his head as Naruto laughed.

"Hey, Rei-chan, isn't he like Sasuke?"

Rei looked at Naruto strangely.

"Why do you think that?"

"Well, you two always fight, but you really get along well and he's always quiet like Sasuke."

Rei tought about it for a minute. Okoru frowned slightly and thought about what Naruto had said.

"Maybe I'm just a substitute for Sasuke…"He thought.

"I guess you're right. But you know, Sasuke is different, he's more serious than Okoru-baka."

Okoru sweatdropped.

"Besides, Okoru-kun is like a brother to me."

Naruto looked at Rei and then laughed.

"Yeah, and Sasuke is your boyfriend." He mocked her.

He kept laughing and failed to notice the vein that had appeared on her forehead. Rei smacked Naruto and he fell. Okoru just stood there calmly as he was used to his friend's violent behavior. After Naruto had recovered from the blow they talked a bit more and then went their separate ways.

When they got home Zakyo had made dinner, apparently Yu had done some negotiating and Zakyo had happily agreed. The food had been edible, although Okoru had had some complaints which were promptly quieted by Rei. By the end of the meal Yu and Zakyo were smirking, Rei's hand was sore, and Okoru had a few more bumps on his head.

Later that night Rei was sitting outside as Okoru walked by. He smirked and silently approached his friend.

"Don't even think about it."

He stopped and slumped over. Rei turned to him and smirked.

"Hello, Okoru-baka."

Okoru sent a slight glare towards his friend.

"Will you stop calling me that?"

"Nope." She said happily.

He sighed and Rei laughed. She pulled him down and he just sat there next to her.

"Hey, Okoru, I'm sorry about you not being able to become a chunin."

He looked at her and smirked.

"Don't be stupid, you know I don't care. At least you guys still have a chance. You better not ruin it!"

"I won't, I told you I'll try hard to win."

"Yeah, well then why do you think you can beat Yu?"

"I told you, you'll just have to wait." She said as she smiled.

Okoru sighed and shook his head. Rei yawned and leaned on him. He was a bit surprised, but he just stayed still.

"Okoru, you need to eat more and get fat, your bones kind of hurt when I lean on you." Rei said as she smirked.

Okoru felt his eye begin to twitch.

"Then if you want to sleep go to bed."

"No, I'm too lazy, plus, it's too early."

He sighed.

"Oh, come on, you know you like it when I' around to annoy you." She laughed.

Okoru smiled and sighed. He felt strange at being so close to Rei. It was weird since he had never felt like that before. He guessed it was because of his newfound feelings. He sighed. He supposed he would have to tell her someday. Still, he knew he should do it before Sasuke returned as it would be easier to deal with things without him. He sighed and decided to just hold things back. At least he would just have to wait to go back to Kirigakure. Suddenly, Rei sat up and Yu appeared.

"Rei, Sakura is here."

"Yeah, I know." She said calmly as she stood up.

Okoru looked at her questioningly and she grinned at him.

"How did you know?"

"I sensed her. Unlike you, I can't afford to slack off."

Okoru just sighed and shook his head. Rei followed Yu and saw Sakura. She noticed that she seemed somewhat nervous…or was it concern that she saw.

"Hello, Sakura." She said smiling.

"Hello, sorry to disturb you."

"What are you talking about? It's not like we're doing something worthwhile. Besides, we're teammates." She said as she grinned.

Sakura looked at Rei for a minute and then smiled.

"So, why are you here?"

"Well I…I wanted to see if you know where Sasuke is…"

Rei sighed.

"Well, I do, but it doesn't really matter. He'll be fine, I'm sure he's just training. You know how he is. He doesn't want anyone distracting him. He's such a jerk." She grinned.

"Oh, I see…"

Sakura seemed disappointed and Rei sighed.

"Sakura, you shouldn't worry about Sasuke, he's strong. I'm sure he'll be back soon."

"Yeah, I know." She said as she smiled.

Suddenly there was a loud crash from somewhere in the house.

"Well then, just don't worry about it. Now if you'll excuse me I believe I have to kill someone."

Sakura sweatdropped as Rei got up and left. She left as well.

Rei walked into the training room and felt her eye begin to twitch. Apparently Okoru had managed to annoy Zakyo again and as a result he had been thrown against the wall. He was currently slumped against it, a large hole was behind him. She sighed and walked over to Okoru. She pulled him up on his feet.

"Okoru-baka, what did you do this time?" She sighed.

"He said I was an annoying brat and he smacked him on the head!"

Rei sighed and smacked Okoru.

"You should really be nice to Zakyo, you know." She sighed.

"Fine." He mumbled.

"Just tell her to stop bothering me."

"Zakyo, were you annoying Okoru?"

"Maybe…"

"Please stop, you know how easily he gets annoyed. I mean, really, who wants to live with an annoyed Okoru, you know how crappy that is and Yu an I would have to put up with him as well."

Okoru sweatdropped at the lack of respect for him.

"I'm sorry Rei-san I didn't think of it that way."

"It's alright." Rei said as she smirked.

Okoru glared at her and she smirked even more.

"Well, I don't know about you guys, but I'm going to sleep. Now that I think about it, there isn't too much time left until the exam continues and I should really train." Rei yawned.

"Oh, and Okoru-kun, maybe you should train with Zakyo tomorrow, I have something to do anyways."

"Alright." He sighed as Zakyo grinned.

As Okoru watched Rei walk away he wondered what it was that she had to do. He sighed and decided that it really was none of his business. He went to bed as he tried to ignore Zakyo as she mocked him. He ignored the twitch in his eye and the throbbing vein on his head. He was not looking forward to training with his cousin.

End Chapter Forty-Four

Hope you guys liked it and sorry if not much happened in this chapter and that it took so long. I've been a bit busy and these chapters could be considered fillers. But before you begin sending death threats just know that I will get back to the exams really soon. Anyways, please review, the sooner you review the sooner I update and the more reviews I receive the more I write. Sayonara!